The diplomatic relations between Canada and India have soured, due to different takes on Khalistanis.
However, Canada is not the only country that has stood against India in this particular issue, other Western countries also have. Are these nations protecting Khalistani terrorists? Why are they putting their bilateral relations at stake for this issue? What does the entire picture look like?
Here are all sides you need to know.
The Difference Between Canada And India?
During the 1970s-80s, the Sikhs in India proposed a separate Sikh state, called Khalistan. While this demand gradually died away, it still seems to resurge quite often.
In 2018, Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau visited India for a formal dinner hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner. The purpose of this visit was to smoothen the two country’s trade and diplomatic relations, especially after India’s claim that Canada was supporting the Khalistani Movement on its soil.
As per the 2021 census, Canada has the largest Sikh population, after India’s Punjab, totalling 771,790.
The tensions escalated on June 8, 2024, when Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s Foreign Minister condemned the Canadian government for allowing a parade in Brampton, Ontario. The agenda of the parade was showcasing the assassination of India’s former PM Indira Gandhi, who was killed by two of her Sikh bodyguards after she allowed the storming of a Sikh temple.
On June 18, 2024, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, the Canadian city having the maximum Sikh population. He was a Sikh separatist who had been labelled as a “terrorist” in India.
This incident adversely affected trade relations and diplomatic ties between the two nations. In May 2024, three Indian nationals were arrested and charged with murder in Canada. This month, the Canadian PM said that there was ample evidence proving the involvement of Indian government agents in activities that “threaten public safety in Canada” and “clandestine information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder”.
Read More: ResearchED: Why Does A Small Group Of Khalistanis Continue To Survive In Canada And How Do They Impact India?
Are Other Countries Also Shielding Khalistani Separatists?
Canada is not the only country protecting Khalistani separatists.
The Justice Department of the United States has said that an Indian citizen has alleged involvement in a conspiracy by an Indian intelligence official to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen. A high-level inquiry committee was sent by India this month to the USA, to look into the matter.
A recent report in the Washington Post, the most trusted and influential news organisation in the US, said that concerning “more than three dozen current and former senior officials in the United States, India, Canada, Britain, Germany and Australia”, including many R&AW officers have been subjected to “arrest, expulsion and reprimand” recently, indicating that there was international cooperation against Indian members by Indian officials.
The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is India’s foreign intelligence agency. The report said, “In reports that have been closely held within the American government, U.S. intelligence officials have assessed that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel.”
“U.S. spy agencies have more tentatively assessed that Mr. Modi’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, was probably aware of RAW’s plans to kill Sikh activists,” it added.
The Indian government has blocked CBC and ABC, Canadian and Australian broadcasters, that accused Indian agencies of targeting Khalistanis in foreign countries.
However, India has designated Pannun as a terrorist, who is currently residing in America and is protected by their laws.
Western countries are shielding Khalistani separatists under the name of “freedom of speech” and “diversity”.
“As an extremely diverse country, freedom of expression is something that we have but will always make sure that we are pushing back against violence and extremism in all its forms,” said PM Trudeau in an interview.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Vedant Patel, regarding this issue said, “Individuals have the right to freedom of speech, the right to peacefully assemble in the United States.”
Since 2003, India has sent 26 extradition requests against these “terrorists”, along with evidence, to Canada, but only 6 fugitives have been returned till 2020.
The latest statement by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a US-based Khalistani group, revealed the setting aside of $500,000 in their budget to track Sanjay Verma’s (the High Commissioner to Canada, who has now been recalled) whereabouts and bring him to justice. Trudeau has called this “a mildly strong opinion”.
The United Kingdom has joined New Zealand, Australia and the US in support of the investigation being carried out by the Canadian government of the role of Indian agencies in the killing of a Canadian citizen on its soil. Thus, the Five Eyes Alliance, which comprises these five countries (the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada) are in favour of Canada’s stance on the issue.
“Australia respects Canada’s judicial process. Our position of principle is that the sovereignty of all countries should be respected and that the rule of law should be respected,” said the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“New Zealand has a diverse population, with large communities with cultural connections to a broad range of countries from across Asia, the Pacific and Europe. We expect all such communities to act, and be treated, lawfully and with respect,” reverberated the New Zealand counterpart.
The British government said, “We are in contact with our Canadian partners about the serious developments outlined in the independent investigations in Canada. The UK has full confidence in Canada’s judicial system.”
Mutual understandings between India and other foreign countries on the issue of Khalistani separatists are yet to take place.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Al Jazeera, Firstpost, The Hindu
This post is tagged under: Khalistani, separatists, Canada, India, High Commissioner to Canada, Sikhs For Justice, SFJ, terrorists, U.S. State Department, Vedant Patel, spokesperson, freedom of speech, CBC, Australian, broadcasters, western, countries, agencies, ABC, National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, activists, Sikhs, Samant Goel, diplomatic relations, bilateral relations, Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Khalistani Movement, Punjab, Foreign Minister, Brampton, Ontario, Indira Gandhi, assassination, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, temple, Surrey, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Washington Post, R&AW
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