India hit back at Canada, USA on double standard over terrorism

India hit back at Canada and the USA, albeit in a veiled manner, on double standards over terrorism and cautioned the powerful nations against resorting to political convenience while responding to terrorism.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his speech delivered at the UN, on Tuesday, launched a veiled attack on USA and Canada and said that non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercised in cherry-picking.

Although Jaishankar made no mention of the countries he was referring to there was no doubt that words were directed at Canada and the USA.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau had a few days back alleged that Indian agents were behind the killing of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar at Surrey in British Colombia in Canada in June this year. India has rejected the charges.

The USA has also lent support to Canada in the matter and asked India to cooperate in the investigation.

Jaishankar asked the UN member states not to allow "political convenience" to determine responses to terrorism, extremism, and violence, and asserted that the days when a few nations set the agenda and expected others to fall in line are over.

‘’We must never again allow an injustice like vaccine apartheid to recur. Climate action too cannot continue to witness an evasion of historical responsibilities. The power of markets should not be utilized to steer food and energy from the needy to the wealthy’’.

‘’Nor must we countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism, extremism, and violence. Similarly, respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercised in cherry-picking’’, he added.

India seeks to promote corporations with diverse partners. From the era of non-alignment, we have now evolved to that of 'Vishwa Mitra' - a friend to the world.