Canada’s FM Connects with Indian Counterpart, Modi Not Invited to G7

The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand recently spoke with her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar over the telephone on 25 May and called the discussion productive towards strengthening Canada-India ties. The ties between the two countries had fallen to an all-time low when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada had said in September 2023 that agents of the Indian government had carried out the killing of a Sikh community leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023. Canada had expelled Indian diplomat Pavan Kumar Rai who was station head of Indian intelligence. India had also expelled Canadian diplomat, station head of Canadian intelligence Olivier Sylvestre. The two countries paused their negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement. Over the last 20 months the ties have spiralled downwards. The conversation between Anand and Jaishankar prompted the World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada to question the silence of the minister over India ‘targeting the Sikh community in Canada.’ In response, the Hindu Canadian Foundation (HCF) criticized WSO for disparaging Anand and bullying her. HCF said, 'Strengthening diplomatic ties with India has the potential to benefit all Canadians by facilitating trade and fostering economic growth, particularly at a time when Canada faces external geopolitical pressures.' Meanwhile, on 2 Jun, India said PM Narendra Modi is unlikely to visit Canada for the upcoming G7 Summit on 15-17 June 2025. Neither has the Canadian side approached India regarding the visit, nor is the Indian side inclined to attend. India is not part of G7 but over the last five years, the forum has invited India to the talks. Sikh organizations in Canada had called on Ottawa to not invite Modi this year. Meanwhile, a massive row has erupted in Canada after Members of Legislative Assembly from both the Conservative Party and New Democratic Party welcomed Jazzy B alias Jaswinder Singh Bains and Panjabi singers to the British Columbia Assembly. Many MLAs criticized the singers as known Khalistani sympathisers and called their presence as 'an insult to our legislature' (earlier coverage).