Indian students in Canada being influenced by Khalistani goons, becoming criminals: High commissioner

NEW DELHI: Amid deteriorating India-Canada relations, recalled high commissioner Sanjay Verma says Indian students in Canada are being influenced by Khalistani goons. In an interview with the Press Trust of India, the Indian diplomat reflected on the alleged ‘dire’ situation of students in Canada and advised parents to research properly before sending their kids to study abroad.

On October 13, Canada identified Verma as a "person of interest" in its investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen labeled a Khalistani terrorist by India. Before Canada could proceed with its inquiry, New Delhi recalled Verma and five other diplomats who had also been named in the investigation. Verma, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology and a nuclear scientist, has previously held ambassadorial positions in Japan and Sudan.

Digressing from the issue of the impact of worsening India-Canada relations on the education and employment of students in Canada, Verma told PTI that the children are not getting what they dreamt of while leaving India. "Are our children really getting what they imagined when they went there? Today, if I look closely, there are 8 children in each room. They have gotten admission in colleges where there is only one class a week. They work all day at shops as daily wage laborers. All of them come from good families. Since classes are only once a week, they will study very little and gain minimal skills,” he was quoted as saying.

“I think about those who studied engineering; they may be doing engineering jobs, but if you look closely, they are driving Uber or selling tea and snacks at a shop. The situation there is not very encouraging. I often tell my friend in Canada, who works in the government, that while the number of Indian students as international students has increased significantly, they are not receiving adequate facilities in proportion to that number,” Verma added.

Study in Canada: Khalistani gangs, student suicides

Giving advice for the future, the Indian envoy asked parents of Indian students to research properly as they are spending a huge amount of money on their education. He noted that Indian students pay four times the fee paid by Canadian students in colleges.

Further digging into the current situation of students in Justin Trudeau's country, Verma reportedly said, "The social situation has deteriorated to the point where Khalistani elements are now attacking non-Khalistani individuals and threatening children. Many kids who have gone from our Punjab are being pressured to join Khalistani gangs. Some innocent children have gone there and have become criminals, turning into gangsters. They are being influenced by Khalistani goons."

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The high commissioner also alleged frequent student suicides during his time in Canada. “There was a time when were sending two body bags in a week as students were dying by suicide. These children went there with hopes for a future, but they are returning in a body bag,” PTI quoted him as saying.