Minister of State for External Affairs of India, V Muraleedharan, informed the Parliament on Friday that, according to Ottawa’s data for 2021, 8.3 lakh Canadian citizens profess Hinduism, and 7.7 lakh reported Sikhism as their religion. In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Muraleedharan presented this information in a written reply, citing Canada Census data for 2021.
Mr. Muraleedharan emphasized that the safety and well-being of Indian citizens in Canada remain a top priority for the government. He stated, “The Indian charge/consulates in Canada are consistently engaged with the Indian community, including discussions on measures to ensure their safety and well-being.”
The strained ties between India and Canada, sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September linking Indian agents to the payment of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, were acknowledged by Mr. Muraleedharan. India vehemently denied these charges.
“The Ministry (of External Affairs) and our charge/consulates in Canada regularly address any untoward incidents related to the Indian community, including hate crimes, with the concerned Canadian authorities,” Mr. Muraleedharan added. He mentioned, “India has expressed our concern and urged them to conduct investigations, holding the perpetrators accountable.”
Regarding trade, Mr. Muraleedharan disclosed that the total India-Canada trade volume was $5.647 billion in 2020-21, $6.896 billion in 2021-22, and $8.277 billion in 2022-23.
