In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before the country’s Foreign Interference Commission on Wednesday, making several contentious statements about India’s alleged actions on Canadian soil.
Justin Trudeau takes a jibe at India again
Trudeau reaffirmed that “‘One India’ is the official Canadian policy,” acknowledging that while some Canadians may advocate otherwise, it doesn’t change the government’s stance or make such advocacy illegal. He emphasized that this policy defends India’s “territorial integrity.”
However, Trudeau accused India of responding to Canada’s concerns by attacking “Canada and Canadians” and “undermining the integrity of our democracy.” This statement comes amid an ongoing diplomatic row that has seen India recalling its top envoy to Ottawa and expelling six Canadian diplomats.
Canada has no proof of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing
The Prime Minister admitted that his government had only “intelligence and no proof” regarding India’s alleged involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani activist shot dead in British Columbia last year. This admission has drawn further criticism from India.
Trudeau defended his decision to make public the allegations about Nijjar’s murder, stating it was in the interest of public safety. He claimed that India’s response to these allegations was to “double down attacks against Canada” and “arbitrarily eject dozens of Canadian diplomats over absolutely no cause.”
Justin Trudeau on Indian diplomats
In a startling allegation, Trudeau claimed that “Indian diplomats were collecting information on Canadians who are opponents or in disagreement with the PM Modi government.”
He further alleged that this information was passed to the highest levels of the Indian government and then directed through criminal organizations like the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for potential violent actions on Canadian soil.
These accusations come despite India’s repeated assertions that Canada has made baseless claims without providing evidence.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Trudeau claimed that Canadian law enforcement had made “several attempts” to work with their Indian counterparts but were “repeatedly refused.”
The India-Canadian rift
The current diplomatic crisis erupted in September 2023 when Trudeau alleged that Canadian security agencies had credible information linking Indian government agents to Nijjar’s killing. However, it’s worth noting that India had previously labelled Nijjar a terrorist, connecting him to various violent activities, including a 2007 movie theatre bombing in Punjab and the 2009 murder of Sikh politician Rulda Singh.
The situation is further complicated by India’s longstanding concerns about pro-Khalistan elements active in Canada. Critics argue that the Canadian government has either ignored or refused to act on these concerns, allowing anti-India activities to persist. This includes the organization of so-called Khalistan referendums, which have been a point of contention between the two nations.
As tensions continue to escalate, both countries face significant challenges in maintaining their diplomatic and economic relationships. The situation remains fluid, with potential implications for trade, cultural exchanges, and the large Indian diaspora in Canada.
