“There is a big trade relationship, there are 17 lakh Indians living in Canada.”
Thiruvananthapuram:
Congressman Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said it is a fundamental relationship between two countries and Canada and India have a lot in store for them, adding that the time will come when it can be restored.
“I think we need to rebuild that relationship because it is based on much more than one allegation, from a prime minister of a certain government that is going to face elections soon. And I think it’s a fundamental relationship between the two countries, and that remains a fact. that Canada and India have a lot to offer,” Mr Tharoor told ANI in Thiruvananthapuram.
He further expressed the expectation that both sides will conduct themselves with the maturity and composure necessary to ensure that no lasting damage is caused by this current controversy.
“There is an important trade relationship: seventeen lakh Indians live in Canada. The student population in Canada is so large that 40 percent of their international student population are Indians. So given all this, I have absolutely no doubt that in my view, the India-Canada relationship is important,” he said.
“It goes further than one incident or one government. And the time will come when it can be restored. My hope is that both parties will conduct themselves with the maturity and composure necessary to ensure that no lasting damage is caused by this. current controversy,” Mr Tharoor said.
Ties between India and Canada deteriorated further after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s role behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This was followed by the expulsion of a senior diplomat by both countries, in a tit-for-tat move.
However, India has rightly denied such allegations, calling them ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’.
Strikingly, the Canadian Prime Minister has failed to provide any evidence to support his claims.
On the INDIA Coalition in Kerala, Shashi Tharoor said, “Since there is a long-standing historical rivalry in Kerala between the Left Front and the UDF, I don’t think we can compare in any general way. There will undoubtedly be debate in both countries. state depends on the reality of that state and we all know what the reality of Kerala is.”
On the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congressman said that under the current circumstances, he would be surprised if the negative votes against the BJP government did not increase dramatically.
“We have a very good chance of pulling off some surprises in 2024, given the situation. Many people are unhappy with the performance of the BJP government. People are increasingly concerned about unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, while growing more insecure due to hatred and intolerance between communities. Under these circumstances, it would be a surprise to me if the negative votes against the BJP government do not increase dramatically,” he told ANI.
He further said, “There should in turn be positive voices for our message, for harmony, the inclusion of social justice and raising the profile of the marginalized sections of the society, the Dalits, the OBCs and the Adivasis, all of whom be prioritized in the INDIA manifesto. and approach. I am confident there is enough here to give us the opportunity to deliver a real shock to the BJP government.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)