NEW DELHI: Canada may have taken the plea of free speech and cited legal requirement for more proof to act against pro-Khalistan extremists’ alleged political persecution to find sanctuary in its territory, but the country has failed to act on India’s requests even for extradition of fraudsters and those accused of drug dealing, domestic violence and rape.This has turned the country into a “safe haven” for criminals wanted in India, govt sources said.
Sources here pointed out that no action has been taken against one Gurcharan Singh, accused in a cheating case, although a request was made in 2003. Similarly, Omkar Mal Aggarwal, accused of criminal conspiracy and cheating in a property case, has been wanted since 2016, while India sought the extradition of Jasvinder Pal Singh Walia in 2022 in a case related to gang rape and blackmail of a female employee of his spa during 2014-15, which is pending. Last year, a plea was made against Ravinder Singh for cruelty against his wife, after he fled the country.
Sources said there are formal and informal channels via which information is exchanged but a common thread is there – reluctance on part of Canadian authorities.
On several occasions, India has suggested that the Canadian govt check the antecedents of individuals who enter the country illegally and later seek asylum, but the suggestion has been ignored. Even the caution that the “open door” policy is a recipe for disaster, as those who have profited from crime are going to ply their dark trade in their new home, has not been heeded. “Nor have the instances vindicating the warning,” said a senior source.
In the case of terrorists and criminals, Indian authorities have shared call details and even the location of suspects and suggested that action could be taken under Canadian laws but complained that they have always hit a wall.
Sources also dismissed the grounds of “higher bar” and “due process” refrained by Canadian agencies to justify their action against terrorists entering the country camouflaged as “dissenters who are facing prosecution for political reasons” as just an alibi, saying the concerns have never come in the way of tough action against operatives and sympathisers of IS and their family members. “The indifference and resistance to our requests… has been visceral and has been the norm since 2003,” said the source.
In fact, after years of informal sharing of information and dossiers, which Canada said didn’t meet their legal requirements, a formal arrangement was worked out between NIA and RCMP but there has not been much headway.
Even in the 1980s when militancy was at its peak in Punjab, Canada under then PM Pierre Trudeau, Justin’s father, harboured Khalistani terrorists, including those involved in murders and bombings, including that of Kanishka that killed hundreds of passengers.
In recent years too, as Sikh extremists decided to make Canada as their base for anti-India activities, govt repeatedly flagged its concern and shared evidence, including links with Pakistan, but has not met with much success. What has raised further eyebrows in New Delhi is how many extremists accused of serious terror charges have even been given official assignments.
