New Delhi: This week started with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting a ‘possible connection’ between government agents and the assassination of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. This accusation has further strained the relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa.
India promptly dismissed Trudeau’s allegations as ‘ridiculous and politically motivated.’ As a result of Trudeau’s claim, a series of measures unfolded, leading to the expulsion of ranking officials from both India and Canada.
As part of the back-and-forth actions, India issued a travel advisory advising its citizens travelling to Canada to exercise ‘extreme caution’ due to the increasing instances of India activities and hate crimes.
While the United States expressed ‘serious concerns in response to Trudeau’s allegations, Canada’s closest allies, including the U.S., had previously declined its request for condemnation regarding the killing of leader Nijjar. Former Director General of Police for Jammu and Kashmir SP Vaid cautioned the government about terrorism spreading within its borders. He highlighted that the approach taken by Canada’s Prime Minister resembled mistakes made by Indira Gandhi in the 1980s. Vaid also warned that if Khalistan were to be established, it would likely happen in Canada rather than India.
These recent developments highlight the worsening condition of relations, between India and Canada due to Canada’s perceived tolerance towards the issue of Khalistan separatism. This controversial matter continues to put a strain on ties, between the two countries.