Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India over killing a Sikh separatist leader after attending G20 summit in country

India-Canada relations is going down with recent accusation charged by Canada’s administration over India. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named India as the reason behind killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a Sikh separatist leader, earlier this year. It has said, as per its intelligence, Indian administration agents is possibly linked to the murder of the separatist leader. The statement came right after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped G20 summit in the country. Both the countries have cause and effect relation as according to the information, two million Indians represent Canada’s population which is 6% of Canada’s total population. Whereas Sikh community in Canada is approximately 770,000 or 1.9% of the total population being the most preferred country to migrate by Sikh people.
After the serious allegations made by the country, India’s Ministry of External affairs released the statement and rejected all kind of accusations. It said, ‘We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. We urge the government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil’. Indian Ministry also mentioned country’s constant support to unlawful activities. ‘That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern. The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organized crime is not new’, it said.
While countries are playing blame game over a suspected killing, the investigation is active and ongoing as said by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Dhara Bishnoi is a political expert and is keeping a keen eye on the case. According to her, Canada’s liberal approach towards separatist Khalistani group in the country is straining the countries relations. ‘Canadian government have been liberal with Khalistani supporters and members throughout, even after India has demanded legal actions. Instances of vandalizing properties, hate posters and slogans, against India has become common in Canada. But no legal investigation has ever started. It is a clear support to such violent and hateful activities’, she said. India has always expressed its position over terrorism and activities that are considered threat to national security.
Meanwhile both the countries have expelled senior diplomats of each other’s country. India suspended visa processing for Canadians and Canada halted trade negotiations. Dhara told EAT news, with no credible information or evidence, the case is nothing but a baseless story. She said, ‘Coming up publicly with such strong allegations without proof is nothing but absurd and a motive to tarnish country’s image. If calculations are true, then there are some liberal leaders in the country getting support from Khalistani supports and won’t question it by standing against them. The effect of this strained relation will cost both the countries but India is no position to negotiate or have a diplomatic talk after a blunt statement with no back story’.
However, no other country has come in support of Canada or condemn India over its involvement into the matter, if true. According to Dhara, recent G20 summit is putting western countries in an awkward position. ‘The G20 summit has involved multiple deals and alliances among countries concerning major issues, one is Indo-pacific region. China’s constant expansion policy is pushing countries to unite. United States and other countries have lent support to India to counter China. Definitely, present claims of Canada are putting nations on a difficult spot’, she said. Al Jazeera quoted, ‘Stephanie Carvin, a professor of international relations at Ottawa’s Carleton University said that India is important in western calculations for balancing China and Canada is not. This really does put Canada offside among all other western countries.’
Canada-based Punjabi singer Shubh is at the Centre of controversy when his show in India has been cancelled after he shared a distorted map of India on social media platform. He is said to be a Khalistani supporter by social media users and faced boycott trend all over the social media. Another Canada-based Punjabi singer Ap Dhillon came in support to the fellow artist and posted, ‘Special interest and political groups constantly use our public image as a chess piece to further their agenda while we are just trying to make art that helps people on an individual level, regardless of their colour, race, religion, nationality, gender etc.’
On asking how this will unfold the future relation between both the countries including with other western countries, Dhara answered expelling senior diplomats and suspending visa processing is a matter to look into which can have further consequences. ‘This has become an international case after Canada’s Prime Minister accused India but no official statements have been passed after that. Neither the Prime Ministers or Foreign Ministers exchanged dialogues regarding the matter that were made official by the Ministry. So, it is hard to speculate further consequences but for now, the trade between both the countries is affected largely’, she said.