October 14, 2024: The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada has been deeply strained following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that India was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan separatist and Canadian citizen, in June 2023. The Indian government has consistently rejected these claims as baseless and politically motivated, further accusing the Trudeau administration of using these allegations for vote-bank politics and facilitating anti-India extremism on Canadian soil. Diplomatic tensions escalated with a recent Canadian communication naming Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the investigation, which India has strongly condemned.
Trudeau first raised this issue in September 2023 in the Canadian parliament, alleging the involvement of Indian intelligence in Nijjar’s murder. India categorically rejected the claims, describing them as “absurd” and “motivated.” These allegations have sparked a diplomatic rift between the two nations.
Canada has arrested four Indian nationals in the course of investigations into the Nijjar case.
On Friday, in Laos, Trudeau said he stood by his allegation. He said national security agencies and law enforcement “continue to be deeply engaged on this issue.”
India has strongly dismissed Canada’s recent diplomatic communication suggesting that its diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, are involved in the Nijjar case. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned the allegations as “preposterous” and a deliberate smear campaign aimed at advancing the Trudeau government’s domestic political agenda, specifically targeting vote banks supportive of the pro-Khalistan movement.
India has pointed out that Canada has failed to provide any credible evidence to support these allegations, despite repeated requests for concrete proof. India has expressed frustration over what it perceives as a Canadian strategy to malign India without factual backing. Moreover, India claims that Trudeau’s actions are influenced by his political need to appease a section of voters sympathetic to the Khalistan cause.
India has accused the Trudeau government of harboring violent extremists and terrorists on Canadian soil, who have been involved in threats and intimidation of Indian diplomats and community leaders. India is particularly concerned about the growing influence of Khalistani separatists in Canada and their alleged links to organized crime and drug syndicates. New Delhi has demanded that Canada take concrete action against these groups and individuals.
The situation became more complicated when a US indictment, unsealed in November 2023, revealed that New Delhi officials allegedly attempted to hire a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, another pro-Khalistan activist. The indictment mentioned a plot involving a drug dealer, Nikhil Gupta, who was supposedly offered $100,000 by Indian officials. While India launched an investigation into the US allegations, its response to the Canadian accusations remains markedly dismissive.
Despite the serious allegations, formal diplomatic engagement between India and Canada has been minimal. On the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos (October 2024), Trudeau briefly interacted with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, according to Indian sources, there was no substantive discussion. Trudeau has publicly reiterated his concerns about national security and the safety of Canadians. “I emphasized that there is work that we need to do,” Trudeau told reporters in Laos. “I won’t go into details about what we talked about, but what I have said many times is that the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law are some of the fundamental responsibilities of any Canadian government, and that’s what I’ll stay focused on,” he added.
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