“Current situation between India, Canada affecting people of country living there, govts need to settle it soon”: SAD President

New Delhi [India], September 21 (ANI): Amid a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, Shiromani Akali Dal President and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday appealed to the Central Government to establish a good relationship with Canada soon to avoid ‘increasing panic’ among the citizens living there.

Badal also met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and requested him to ‘find a solution’ over the matter soon.

“Keeping the whole situation in mind, I request the government of India and the government of Canada, especially the government of India that it needs to be settled as soon as possible because more delay means more tension and panic,” Badal said while talking to the reporters after meeting with Shah.

He further said that a panic-like situation is developing among the people living in Canada due to the recent developments between both countries.

“The current situation between India and Canada is now affecting the people of Indian origin living in Canada…A panic-like situation is developing among the people. The government of India should find a solution soon. I have requested this from Home Minister Amit Shah…” he added.

Badal further said that there would be massive reactions to the recent development if it is not solved quickly.

“Many students from India who are studying in Canada are worried that if their Visa is denied what will happen. I have received many calls from the students about what will happen to their studies in Canada. This panic is increasing and there will be a massive reaction to this…” he said.

The statement from the Akali Dal President came amidst tensions in India-Canada relations after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

Trudeau during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

The allegations made by the Canadian Prime Minister and foreign minister were rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs in India which dubbed the statements as absurd. 

“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated” the statement said.