Lawmaker Chandra Arya, who hails from Karnataka, has been a staunch supporter of close ties between India and Canada.
New Delhi: Canada's Indian-origin Member of Parliament Chandra Arya met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to India and discussed bilateral ties. Arya called India a “significant and growing market” for Canada’s exports and investments. He noted that India is a key source for fulfilling Canada’s “critical talent needs.”
In a post on X, Arya stated, “I had the privilege of meeting the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi at his residence office. We discussed Canada-India relations. India is a significant and growing market for Canada’s exports and investments, and it serves as a key source for fulfilling our critical talent needs.”
“As the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner in India said a few months back “in the long-term, Canada’s strategic interest and India’s strategic interest are absolutely aligned.” We all need to work to realize the full potential of our relationship,” he added.
The meeting comes weeks after Arya met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and said that India and Canada should take their relationship to the next level as Ottawa requires skilled Indian professionals and also hosts a large number of Indian students. Jaishankar said he was "delighted" to meet Arya and called him "a genuine advocate of India–Canada friendship" as he appreciated his views and insights.
The Canadian lawmaker has been a staunch backer of close ties between India and Canada as relations go through a rough phase as Ottawa accuses New Delhi of hatching a murder-for-hire plot in the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Arya was also threatened by another Khalistan leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who in a video asked him and members of the Hindu-Canadian community to return to India.
