The India-Canada diplomatic relations have been going downhill for the last few years, and it has escalated after the killing of Sikh Separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Colombia last year, with accusations flying thick and fast between the two countries. Since last year Canada has charged that it had credible evidence that Indian agents were behind the killing of a Canadian citizen (Nijjar). The Indian government has denied these charges and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the charges are preposterous.
Never before-not even during 1985 Air India bombing allegedly by Khalistani activists that killed 329 people on board- have the relation reached such a low point. At that time it was said that the Canadians had information of a alleged sabotage but had not bothered to follow up and warn the Indian government.
Few days back, the recall of India’s high Commissioner Sanjay Varma from Ottawa (capital of Canada) together with five other diplomats, has led to New Delhi expelling Canada’s acting High Commissioner, and five others. What is more, Canada claimed it has ‘expelled’ the six Indians before New Delhi recalled them. In the end, it does not matter who did what, the fact is both countries have once again done a second bout of tit-for-tat expulsions. The first was last year when New Delhi asked Ottawa to reduce nearly two-thirds of its huge staff in India.
India has dismissed the Canadian charges and believes that much of this has to do with PM Justin Trudeau’s domestic political agenda. “ The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous charges and ascribe them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics”.
It is a well known fact that Canada has a huge Sikh diaspora and many of them are supporters of Trudeau’s Liberal Party and Khalistani movement. Canada is going for Parliamentary elections some time next year, and Trudeau’s popularity is at all-time low. In fact, according to reports in Canadian media, party members are asking him not to contest elections as chance of a win are bleak. Trudeau’s Liberal Party lost two crucial by-elections in Toronto and Montreal, which are traditionally Liberal Party’s stronghold. But the PM Trudeau is adamant that he functions best under pressure and will reverse the trend. Indian government believes that Trudeau’s accusation stem from his desire to play support base among Canadian Sikhs who are pro Khalistani.
In fact, he has used strong words against India, saying that “ The Government of India made a fundamental error of thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadian citizens”. He further added “We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government threatening and killing on Canadian soil, which is unaccepted as it is violation of Canada’s sovereignty and international law”.
However Canada is not the only country accusing the Indian Government. The USA and Australia have also done so. Pakistan too has alleged that India is behind the killing of some former Khalistani activists inside Pakistan. The USA raised the issue with the Indian government last year about the plot to bump off Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of Sikhs for Justice, a pro Khalistani forum. Pannun is designated terrorist by India. New Delhi did not react as it did to Trudeau’s allegations. India instead said it would investigate the matter.
There are mounting concerns among Western security officials and human rights organizations that the Modi government has become one of the World’s most aggressive practitioners of transnational repression, and other means to neutralize perceived homegrown adversaries who have sought refuge in other countries. The Indian government’s stand is that “India has every right to take action against nation’s declared enemies. If USA kills Osama Bin Laden (enemy of the USA after 9/11) in other country, then it is okay, but when we ask the USA and Canadian government then they do not cooperate with us for sending the declared criminals and enemies (as declared by Indian Court of Law) of India, then they do not repatriate them to India. So India has every right to take action against their enemies. There can not be two international laws, one for Western bloc and other for developing Asian countries”.
The Khalistani issue has time and again marred India’s relations with Canada, though not to this extent. The history of Khalistani movement in India and its slow demise in the end, is well known to every Indian. Yet, the idea of Khalistan lives outside India and is being championed by some Sikhs living in Canada, the USA, Australia and the UK. Many Sikhs who support Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, also dream of Khalistan.
The reality is, for large number of Canadian Sikhs social life revolves around the Gurudwaras. These are mainly rural folks, cut off from the reality of Punjab but with deep roots to their ancestral homes. It is easy to persuade them to believe that a state founded on the precepts of their religion can be reality. They get emotional whenever they perceive a wrong, real or imagined, being perpetrated on Sikhs in India.
The farmers’ agitation echoed among Sikhs in Gurudwaras of Canada and the USA. Donations were generous and money flowed in India from the Sikh diaspora during the farmers’ protest. Khalistani activist found this a perfect opportunity to revive an almost forgotten idea. The made an impact by organizing protests across Indian missions, calling referendum on Khalistan and allegedly threatening Indian diplomats. This was particularly pronounced in Canada under the Trudeau government.
During the last Punjab elections, the BJP often accused the AAP of also giving party tickets to candidates with Khalistan links. The Indian government has time and again accused Canada of harbouring terrorists and Justin Trudeau has been at the receiving end of India’s ire.
Now will the situation become worse before it gets better? Only time will tell, we have to wait and watch.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
21st October 2024