What Led To Tensions Between India And Canada; Here Is Complete Case Study

Tensions between India and Canada have arisen to a point where the two are suspending and laying off top officials from each other’s nations. Well, it seems to have started because of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations on India for killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. However, the allegations were turned down by India by calling it ‘absurd’.
India’s most recent action was to suspend issuing visas to citizens of Canada “until further notice.” Here we examine the factors that led to tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa and how they developed into a full-fledged diplomatic spat.

The spark

The center summoned the Canadian High Commissioner in March in response to Khalistani demonstrations outside Indian missions and consulates in Canada. This occurred when Amritpal Singh, a Khalistani preacher, was the target of a harsh crackdown in Punjab.
An External Affairs Ministry statement had then said it is “expected that the Canadian Government will take all steps which are required to ensure the safety of our diplomats and security of our diplomatic premises”.
A demonstration in Brampton that featured a float representing the killing of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi drew criticism from the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar about two months later. speculating that “vote bank politics” may be to blame for Canada’s lack of action against separatists. Dr Jaishankar said, “I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence and I think it is not good for relationships and not good for Canada.”

The story behind the India and Canada tensions

In the parking lot of a gurdwara in British Columbia, Canada, on June 18, masked gunmen shot and killed Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team of Canada began an investigation, however, no arrests have been made as of yet.
A Khalistani group distributed leaflets weeks after Najjar was killed accusing the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and the Consul General, Apoorva Srivastava, of being responsible for the terrorist’s death. The two diplomats were labeled as “killers” in the flyers announcing the July 8 rally in Toronto. New Delhi brought up the matter with Canadian authorities as a result of this.
Canada guaranteed the security of Indian diplomats and condemned the “promotional material” disseminated in advance of the rally.

Also Read: India Suspends Visa Services For Canadians Amid Intensifying Diplomatic Row

G20 was the next step in India and Canada row

India made it plain during the G20 meeting in New Delhi, which took place from September 8 to 10, that it was unhappy with Canada’s response to Khalistani activity there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed worries to his colleague Justin Trudeau about “continuing anti-Indian activities of extremist elements in Canada” at a bilateral discussion outside of the summit. The relationship between these factors and organized crime, drug cartels, and people trafficking ought to worry Canada as well. India’s strongly worded statement regarding the bilateral meetings stated that cooperation between the two countries is important in combating such dangers.
For his part, Trudeau said that he had numerous conversations with Prime Minister Modi about radicalism in Khalistan and “foreign interference.” Canada will always “defend freedom of expression… conscience and peaceful protest,” he told the media, adding that it will also prevent violence and push back against hatred.
“It is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law, and we did talk about foreign interference,” he said.

The Escalation

In a startling assertion, Trudeau stated on Monday that Canadian security personnel had “reasons to believe” that “agents of the Indian government” had killed Nijjar, a citizen of Canada.
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves,” he was quoted by news reports as saying.
New Delhi responded with a stern statement, saying “Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated”.
Statement from External Ministry
“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected. We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law. Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the External Affairs Ministry said.
“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking, and organised crime is not new,” it added.