Canada a safe haven for terrorists: India

A spokesperson for India's External Affairs Ministry has called Canada a ‘safe haven’ for terrorists, extremists and anti-India activities.

Diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi reached new highs Thursday after India halted visa services in Canada — a nation it claims is a ‘safe haven’ for terrorists.

“If we're talking about reputational damage, if there is one country that needs to look at this, I think it is Canada and its growing reputation as a safe haven for terrorists, for extremists and for organized crime,” said Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs.

“I think that's the country that needs to worry about its international reputation.”

Those and other comments of the past few days have underlined how the Indian government seems to view Canada: A country that for years has given free rein to the more extremist elements of the Khalistani movement for an independent Sikh state.

That view is only intensifying as the ire over Canada accusing Indian agents of involvement in the shooting death this June of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen, deepens across India's political sphere.

India has flatly rejected the allegations, calling them absurd and politically motivated.

Canada says the allegations are "credible" and that Ottawa is not looking to provoke India by revealing them.