Friday, January 26, 2024

Not just Canada.

"A Czech appeals court has ruled that Prague can extradite to the United States an Indian man accused by the US of involvement in an unsuccessful plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil, the Justice Ministry said on Friday. A final decision on the extradition of Nikhil Gupta, 52, will be in the hands of Justice Minister Pavel Blazek once the ruling is delivered to all parties in the case, a ministry spokesperson told Reuters." Next door to the US, "India-Canada diplomatic battle is all set to intensify as Canada's federal commission of inquiry into foreign interference will scrutinize claims that India allegedly intervened in its last two general elections, Canada-based CTV News reported." "The commissioner of the probe has been entrusted with investigating any meddling in the 2019 and 2021 elections by China, Russia, and other state and non-state entities." ET. "Many see targeting India as a meddler in elections as a ploy by the Trudeau government to deflect attention from the rampant Chinese interference which has been in favor of Trudeau's Liberal Party." "By accusing Indian agencies of killing Nijjar last year, Trudeau managed to launch an issue that took the Canadians' attention off his own troubles." ET. "Following a Canadian media report that law enforcement has tracked down two persons connected to the murder of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India has said it will 'look into' whatever 'specific and relevant information' is shared with New Delhi." HT. While Trudeau has been abused and insulted by Indians, with one former Indian diplomat alleging that  he was 'high on drugs' and that his plane was 'full of cocaine' during his visit to India for the G20 Summit (Mint), a US indictment revealed that "the White House was aware of the US investigation into the murder-for-hire plot before Trudeau publicly addressed it after the G20 summit in India" (DH). A golden opportunity for Pakistan to stir the pot. "Pakistan said...it had 'credible evidence' linking Indian agents to the killings of two Pakistani citizens on Pakistani soil." ET. Naturally, "Pakistan's latest attempt at spreading false and malicious anti-India propaganda is baseless and absurd," slammed India's External Affairs Ministry. Zee. Can't take credit for them either before the election. Infuriating. Delay in issuing a visa to English cricketer of Pakistani descent Shoaib Bashir for the ongoing Test series raised the hackles of the British government. HT. "France has raised concerns with India regarding a notice served by the home ministry to French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, who has been based in India for more than two decades." TOI.  "The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on EU-India relations just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections which is critical of India's relations with Russia and 'increasing nationalistic rhetoric'." TOI. None of these nations should even imagine levying sanctions on India because Mr Modi will use that to win a huge majority in the election. Instead targeted sanctions on individual politicians and officials, while praising Mr Modi, may prompt some rats to desert the ship. Be subtle. Softly, softly catchee monkey.  

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