Tensions between India and Canada have escalated in recent days, primarily sparked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Najjar. India has strongly dismissed these allegations as “absurd,” leading to a series of diplomatic exchanges and actions between the two countries.
The events that unfolded include the expulsion of each other’s envoys, travel advisories warning about risks in their respective territories, and India’s suspension of visa issuance to Canadian citizens “till further notice.”
The initial trigger for these tensions came when a Khalistani organization distributed flyers depicting Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General Apoorva Srivastava as responsible for the terrorist’s murder. These diplomats were labeled as “killers” in pamphlets advertising a rally in Toronto on July 8. India raised this issue with Canadian authorities, who assured the safety of Indian diplomats while denouncing the circulated “promotional material.”
The situation intensified during the G20 summit in New Delhi from September 8-10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concerns to Trudeau about “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada” during a bilateral meeting. India also highlighted the nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates, and human trafficking and emphasized the need for cooperation between the two countries to address these threats.
Trudeau, on his part, acknowledged discussions about Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference” with Prime Minister Modi. He asserted Canada’s commitment to defending freedom of expression and peaceful protest while preventing violence and hatred. The exchange took a frosty turn when Trudeau encountered flight troubles on his return to Canada, which was eventually resolved.
The situation escalated further when Trudeau claimed on Monday that Canada’s security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” were involved in Nijjar’s killing. India swiftly rejected these allegations, describing them as absurd and motivated. The Indian government emphasized its commitment to the rule of law and dismissed the allegations as an attempt to divert attention from Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have found shelter in Canada and pose a threat to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. India also expressed concerns about Canada’s inaction and tolerance of various illegal activities within its borders, including murder, human trafficking, and organized crime.
The diplomatic rift between India and Canada is characterized by accusations, counter-accusations, and a growing distrust, which has led to both countries taking measures to safeguard their interests and assert their positions on the contentious issue of Khalistan extremism and its impact on bilateral relations.
India and Canada tensions
The tensions between India and Canada over the Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Najjar’s murder have cast a shadow over bilateral relations. It remains to be seen how the two countries will navigate this diplomatic rift and resolve the underlying issues that have led to the current impasse.
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