26 extradition requests pending with Canada: India

India-Canada row: India says it has shared 26 extradition requests with Canada and also security information on gangs, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was disclosed but no action has been taken so far

India has shared 26 extradition requests with Canada and also security information on gangs, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, was disclosed but no action has been taken so far, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday (October 17, 2024).

“There are 26 extradition requests pending with the Canadian side. These are over the last decade or more. Along with it, there are several provisional arrest requests which are also pending with the Canadian side of several criminals... They are wanted on terror charges and related charges...,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said addressing the weekly press conference.

India has shared security related information with the Canadian government on gang members, including Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and requested them to arrest them and/or take due action as per law, he stated. “So far, no action has been taken by the Canadian side on our request. This is very serious. Also, we find it really strange that now the people whom we asked to be deported, whom we asked action to be taken, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is blaming the Indian side for the violence committed by these people in Canada. This is a contradiction which we don’t understand.”

On Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks expressing support for ‘One India’ policy, the spokesperson said they have seen the comments but so far no action has been taken against “anti-India” elements as was requested. “There is a gap between actions and words here,” Mr. Jaiswal said.

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The spokesperson reiterated that no evidence was provided by Canada to the allegations. “Since September 2023, the Canadian government has not shard any shred of evidence with us,” he said.

On Thursday (October 17, 2024), deposing before the Canadian Foreign Interference Commission, Mr. Trudeau said what they had was “primarily intelligence” on the allegations made but “not hard evidentiary proof”.