Canada-India ties could take a long time to recover
Associated PressOCT 12 2024
The row between Canada and India deepened this week as the countries traded fresh barbs over the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.
On Wednesday, speaking at a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of making a "massive mistake" — doubling down on his country's allegation that Indian agents had a part to play in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June of last year.On Wednesday, speaking at a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of making a "massive mistake," doubling down on his country's allegation that Indian agents had a part to play in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June of last year.
Earlier this week, Trudeau's government expelled six top diplomats from India. The Canadian leader said evidence brought to light by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "cannot be ignored," after it had accused Indian agents of being linked to Nijjar's murder, as well as "homicides, extortion and violent acts" in relation to other supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement.Earlier this week, Trudeau's government expelled six top diplomats from India. The Canadian leader said evidence brought to light by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "cannot be ignored," after it had accused Indian agents of being linked to Nijjar's murder, as well as "homicides, extortion, and violent acts" in relation to other supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement.
Canada wished to handle this in a responsible way, but in that process, India made a big mistake in thinking that the Canadian government could allow violence on its citizens and violations of its sovereign territory to go unpunished. Rather than work with Canada, the Indian government's approach was to question Canada's democracy.
As Trudeau himself admitted, he made these outlandish accusations without hard evidence, but on the back of intelligence reports he is unable to produce. How can India cooperate if Canada cannot share evidence behind its claims?