Canada urged to act against ‘anti-India extremist elements’: MEA

India on Thursday, May 7, 2026, urged Canada to take action against “anti-India extremist elements” operating on Canadian soil, in the backdrop of a Canadian intelligence report highlighting the national security threat posed by Khalistani elements.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) annual report for 2025, released last week, said the involvement of Canada-based Khalistani extremists in “violent extremist activities” continues to pose a national security threat to Canada.

Also Read | Canada declares extremists in Khalistan ‘national security threat’

“India has repeatedly called on the Canadian government to take effective action against anti-India extremist elements operating on its soil. This includes glorification of violence, threats to Indian leaders and diplomats, vandalism of places of worship and addressing attempts to promote separatism through so-called ‘referendums’,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.

Mr. Jaiswal was responding to a question regarding the CSIS report.

He said India has consistently expressed concern over the use of Canadian territory as a “safe haven” by extremist and separatist elements.

“The CSIS assessment acknowledges the presence of supporters of the Khalistani separatist movement in Canada and notes that Canada-based Khalistani extremist (CBKE) groups continue to pose a national security threat not only to India but also to Canada,” he said.

Also Read | Khalistani extremists receive financial support from within Canada: report

Mr. Jaiswal said the report also highlighted that such elements “abuse democratic freedoms and institutions to promote extremism and raise funds to be diverted to violent activities.”

To a separate question, Mr. Jaiswal said New Delhi has consistently and categorically denied such “baseless accusations” in the CSIS report, which lists China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan as well as India as “the main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against Canada.”

“India’s position on this issue is clear and consistent. We categorically reject such baseless accusations,” he said.

“India is a democracy that adheres to international norms and respects the sovereignty of other nations. It is not our policy to interfere in the affairs of other countries.”

“We believe that any concerns of this nature should be addressed through established mechanisms rather than through public or politicized narratives,” Mr. Jaiswal said.