23

Oct

Diplomatic spat leaves Indo-Canadian community in a lurch

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Prabhjot Singh

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Toronto, Canada | Wednesday | 23 October 2024

Days, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, tensions between India and Canada, have reached a boiling point. Both nations have expelled six diplomats from each other’s embassies, marking one of the most severe actions yet in an ongoing dispute surrounding the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

The sudden deterioration in diplomatic relations has caused shockwaves among the Indian diaspora in Canada, particularly within the Sikh community. The issue, which centers on allegations of foreign interference and espionage, has drawn the attention of global political observers and further strained the already delicate relationship between the two countries.

India swiftly rejected a Canadian communique that named six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner S.K. Verma, as "persons of interest" in the investigation into Nijjar’s assassination. The Canadian government linked these diplomats to Nijjar's killing, a charge India vehemently denies. India defended its diplomats, with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs describing the allegations as “unacceptable” and “slanderous.”

 

Article at a Glance

 

Tensions between India and Canada have escalated dramatically following the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. After a recent meeting between Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Narendra Modi, both countries expelled six diplomats from each other’s embassies.

The conflict centers on allegations of foreign interference, with Canada accusing Indian diplomats of involvement in Nijjar's murder, a claim India vehemently denies, labeling it “unacceptable” and “slanderous.”

Trudeau expressed concern for the Indo-Canadian community, emphasizing Canada’s commitment to sovereignty and public safety while supporting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's findings of Indian government agents' activities in Canada.

This diplomatic crisis highlights long-standing issues surrounding pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, with India calling for action against perceived threats to its sovereignty. As both nations prepare for potential further actions, the future of their diplomatic relations remains uncertain, with significant implications for the Indian diaspora and broader international relations.

 

In retaliation, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Canada’s acting high commissioner and deputy high commissioner, demanding their departure by the end of the week. India also dismissed Canada’s diplomatic communication as baseless, deepening the rift between the two countries.

This is not the first time that diplomatic relations between India and Canada have been strained to such an extent. In 2022, both nations significantly reduced the size of their respective diplomatic missions. Historically, tensions have also flared during events like India’s nuclear test in 1986, which led to Canada withdrawing its high commissioner and imposing sanctions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the situation publicly, acknowledging the distress within the Indo-Canadian and Sikh communities. “I know the events of the past year and today’s revelations have shaken many Canadians, particularly those in Indo-Canadian and Sikh communities. Many of you are angry, upset, and frightened. This shouldn’t happen,” Trudeau said. He emphasized Canada’s strong historical ties with India but made it clear that the country would not tolerate foreign interference.

Trudeau went on to support the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s findings, which he claimed provided “clear and compelling evidence” of Indian government agents engaging in activities that threaten public safety in Canada. These activities allegedly include information-gathering techniques, coercive behavior targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in violent acts, including Nijjar’s murder.

The Prime Minister expressed frustration over India's refusal to cooperate with the investigation, stating that despite repeated attempts by Canadian officials to work with their Indian counterparts, India had been uncooperative. “Given that the Government of India still refuses to cooperate, my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly, had only one choice,” Trudeau said. Consequently, the six Indian diplomats were expelled from Canada and barred from re-entering.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly echoed Trudeau’s sentiments, expressing her disappointment at India's refusal to collaborate on the investigation. She revealed that the RCMP had gathered ample evidence connecting Indian government agents to criminal activities in Canada, including Nijjar’s assassination. According to Joly, Canada requested India to waive diplomatic immunity for the implicated individuals, but India declined. In response, Canada issued expulsion notices for the diplomats.

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme supported the government's actions, stating that investigators had linked Indian agents to over a dozen credible threats, including other homicides and violent acts targeting members of the South Asian community, particularly those involved in the pro-Khalistan movement. Duheme, however, withheld specific details of the cases.

At the heart of this diplomatic crisis is the long-standing disagreement between India and Canada over the activities of pro-Khalistan groups on Canadian soil. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen of Indian origin, was a vocal leader in the movement advocating for an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan. India had declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020 and sought his extradition. His assassination outside a Sikh temple in Surrey has been a flashpoint in Indo-Canadian relations.

For years, India has accused Canada of turning a blind eye to the pro-Khalistan movement, which it views as a threat to its sovereignty. The Indian government has repeatedly called for stronger action against what it sees as anti-India elements operating in Canada. On the other hand, Canada has defended its stance on free speech, arguing that it cannot curtail individuals' rights to express their political views, even if they are controversial.

The assassination of Nijjar has brought these tensions to a head, with India accusing Canada of harboring extremists and Canada accusing India of violating its sovereignty through covert operations.

As diplomatic relations continue to unravel, both countries seem poised for a prolonged standoff. India has firmly rejected the accusations, calling them “absurd.” Meanwhile, Canada maintains that its primary concern is the safety and security of its citizens and will not tolerate foreign interference on its soil.

India's Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that it may take further action in response to what it describes as Canada's support for extremism and separatism. The coming weeks will likely determine whether the two nations can find a diplomatic resolution or if their relations will deteriorate further.

This dispute marks a significant moment in the history of Indo-Canadian relations, one that could have far-reaching implications for diplomatic engagement, trade, and the well-being of the Indian diaspora in Canada.

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