India raised concerns on Thursday over reports of extortion calls received by Indians located in Canada. The Indian business community had reported receiving extortion calls since early December.

In a weekly media briefing, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal raised concerns over the reports of extortion calls reportedly being received by the Indian business community in Canada. Answering a question on the issue of extortion calls, the spokesperson said:

We have several issues to discuss. We have been discussing issues regarding security situation, etc. There was an issue about a temple which was attacked. The Canadian Police then thereafter went to investigate the temple premises, and the person who had intruded later turned out, and they (Canadian Police) issued a statement that the person was of unsound mind. So, there are these issues that keep happening. But on your question, I don’t have exact answers to all the things that you have pointed out, but hopefully, I will share more details with you soon. But it is a matter of concern. People getting extortion calls, especially Indian Nationals, is a matter of serious concern.

In the recent period, India-Canada relations have soured due to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau accusing India of involvement in a Sikh separatist leader’s assassination on Canadian soil. Tensions escalated with diplomatic expulsions, visa suspensions and mutual allegations. The root issue is Canada’s perceived sheltering of Khalistani extremists, prompting India’s dissatisfaction with Canada’s lack of cooperation. This conflict follows previous strains in 2020 over Trudeau’s stance on Indian farmers’ protests.

Earlier on Monday, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs declared Canada-based Satwinder Singh, alias Goldy Brar, an “individual terrorist” under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The ministry alleged that he is linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International. The notification cited Brar’s involvement in cross-border agency-backed killings, radical ideology expression on social media, threatening pro-nationalist leaders, ransom demands, arms smuggling and conspiracies to disrupt peace in Punjab. Brar is accused of masterminding the murder of singer Sidhu Moosewala in Punjab in 2022, and Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice at India’s request. Born in Punjab, Brar moved to Canada in 2017 and is on the Canadian police’s “top 25 wanted list.”