Canada continues to glorify terrorism, says Indian High Commission
"Any act of glorifying terrorism, including the bombing of AI-182 in 1985, is deplorable and should be condemned by all peace-loving countries and people," the High Commission said.
India and Canada on Tuesday sought to strengthen security ties as Defence Minister Arun Jaitley held detailed discussions on the issue with his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan.
Sajjan, who is on a week-long visit to India, was also given a Guard of Honour at South Block, which houses the Defence Ministry. He laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, which is a memorial dedicated to unnamed soldiers.
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His formal welcome came after some confusion over the Guard of Honour, a ceremonial practice to honour domestic or foreign dignitaries, being cancelled after an advisory from the Defence Ministry. It was later clarified by sources that the communique announcing cancellation of the Guard of Honour was a mistake.
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Sajjan arrived here yesterday on a seven-day India visit, his first after assuming charge as Canada's Minister of National Defence.
A Sikh, he will also travel to Amritsar, Chandigarh and Mumbai.
On allegations that he was a Khalistan supporter, Sajjan refused to comment saying that he was proud to have been born in India.
"I have been given many labels through my life," Sajjan said.
"I don't want to be sucked into the internal politics of a province of a nation. My goal is to build relationships. I am proud of the fact that I was born here," he said.
Sajjan was dubbed a Khalistan sympathiser by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has said he would not meet the Canadian minister.
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