As India-Canada relations reached an unprecedented low after Ottawa named Indian diplomats as "persons of interest" in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian media and think tanks have criticised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for making allegations without providing credible evidence and for spreading misinformation regarding the Khalistani threat.
In an article published in the Canadian newspaper The National Post, senior journalist and author John Ivison noted that Canada has allowed Sikh extremism to "flourish" within its borders. He further alleged that Prime Minister Trudeau has allowed diaspora politics to "unduly influence foreign policy" and criticised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for making serious statements against India without providing any evidence.
The Canadian Police alleged that Indian government's agents engaged in “serious criminal activity in Canada” and called it an "extraordinary situation", as it rejected India's allegation of a "deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains” and “providing space” for violent extremists and terrorists among others. The article asserted that it was a "highly unusual public statement" and those were "remarkable allegations to make without providing any evidence". It further mentioned, "It is very much to be hoped that the RCMP has not allowed itself to be used for such blatantly partisan purposes".
Ivisonin criticised the Canadian Prime Minister for worsening the diplomatic situation by failing to address the concerns raised by New Delhi. He wrote, "Trudeau has allowed diaspora politics to unduly influence foreign policy, pledging that 'Sikh values are Canadian values' at events and failing to crack down on suspected Khalistani extremists living in Canada".
The article further says, "Canada has allowed Sikh extremism to flourish, such as the Khalistani parade float that celebrated the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi that toured the streets of Toronto in 2023", also noting "It is simply not in Canada’s interests to be at odds with New Delhi".
The same view was echoed by Daniel Bordman, a Senior Correspondent for The National Telegraph, who said, "Justin Trudeau again fails to provide compelling evidence to the public after escalating tensions with India." He noted that the issue has escalated to the point of diplomats being expelled, yet "we are still in the 'trust me, bro' phase".
"This could end up costing Canada billions in trade. All to appease Jagmeet (Singh) and the gang of Khalistani ministers," Broadman tweeted.
The Canadian media appear to be posing pressing questions to top government officials. Trudeau's ally, Sikh Canadian MP Jagmeet Singh, was seen abruptly ending a press conference without providing a clear answer when journalists asked how the "severe sanctions" he proposed against India would impact Canada's economic interests.
Faran Jeffery, Deputy Director of the Canadian think tank Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism (ICTC), explained the Khalistani threat in the West in a detailed tweet. He observed, "The reality is, this isn't the Modi/BJP government vs Khalistanis; this is India vs Khalistanis".
"They are not Modi's opponents. Khalistanis are separatists. And they are not shy of acknowledging that. This is not a Modi vs Canada problem. This is an India vs separatist problem - and Trudeau's government is doing everything it can to establish that Canada is on the side of the separatists. This is not what allies do," Jeffery, who goes by his screen name FJ, said.
India and Canada have expelled their top diplomats as relations hit rock bottom after Canadian police identified the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats as "persons of interest" in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The hostility emerged after allegations of "involvement of Indian agents" were first raised by Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament in September 2023. However, the North American country has yet to provide any evidence to support its claim.
Source: India Today