India-Canada diplomatic ties further soured this week after Canadian federal police alleged that Delhi “agents” were working with organized criminals – including the Bishnoi gang linked to the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddiqui last week. Including – so that they can be targeted. South Asian community…especially the pro-Khalistani elements in that country.
Each side had expelled six diplomats before the allegations, including high-ranking envoys such as Canada’s acting high commissioner, Stewart Wheeler, and India’s high commissioner, Sanjay Verma. Delhi later said it was laying off its staff due to security concerns.
India strongly refuted Canada’s claims of its ‘expelled’ employees being ‘persons of interest’ in alleged extortion and murder cases, and slammed the “absurd allegations” and “political agenda” of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government ahead of the elections. “Criticized.
Mr. Trudeau then held a press conference – following the claims about his police force – in which he supported the police allegations and criticized “a fundamental error” – that India thinks it is carrying out “criminal activity against Canadians.” Here on Canadian “soil”.
Read | “Bishnoi gang linked to Indian government agents”: Canadian police claim
“Whether it’s murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable,” Mr. Trudeau said. He also claimed that his administration “shares our concerns” with Delhi.
He said Canadian police had spoken to Indian government officials but were rebuffed.
The allegations – that “agents of the Indian government” are working with organized crime bosses to target Canadian citizens – are an acute escalation of the diplomatic dispute between the two countries, which began in September last year, when Mr. Trudeau had accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India-Canada diplomatic dispute Background
The India-Canada dispute erupted in September last year after Justin Trudeau made “credible allegations” about “agents” of the Indian government being linked to the murder of Canadian citizen Nijjar. who was shot dead outside a gurudwara in Vancouver three months ago. ,
The “mastermind” of the Khalistani Tiger Force, a designated terrorist group, Nijjar was on the top of India’s ‘most wanted list’ for several crimes; In July, counter-terrorism agency NIA announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for his capture for the murder of a Hindu priest in Jalandhar, Punjab.
Responding to Canada’s claims, India, as it has done since then, issued a strong denial, calling the allegation “absurd” and motivated, and pointing out that no evidence was provided.
Read | Charges against Trudeau doubled after India-Canada diplomatic row
Relations were already strained due to the allegations – in July 2023 India sent a demarche to Canada calling for action against Khalistani separatists threatening its diplomats, and in March, security breaches at Indian consulates in the United States and Canada Happened – further south.
The Indian government took little notice of the attacks and expressed strong concerns about continued anti-India activities by extremist elements in Canada. The Foreign Ministry talked about the “nexus” of criminal activities in that country, which should be the focus of both. Party.
All this happened after a campaign by the police in India to track down and arrest Khalistani separatist and fundamentalist preacher Amritpal Singh and over 100 members of his organization ‘Waris Punjab De’.
Delhi also tabled a demarche in 2022 asking Ottawa to stop the ‘Khalistan referendum’ by Gurpatwant Pannun’s Sikhs for Justice, another separatist organization that has been branded as a terrorist group.
Trade talks stalled, tension in G20
Trade talks with Delhi were halted days earlier over Canada’s baseless claim about “Indian government agents”. Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng then said talks would be halted until Mr. Trudeau’s government could investigate “credible allegations.”
Read | On stalled trade talks, Canadian minister says “focus” on Nijjar case.
He did not confirm a direct link between Nijjar’s killing and the stalled trade talks.
The two countries have been negotiating a trade deal since 2010.
Trade talks were halted shortly before Mr Trudeau was to travel to India for the G20 summit, leading to some awkward moments. These included the Canadian leader’s plane being grounded due to technical problems on the day of his scheduled departure and then being diverted by a replacement plane.
NDTV explains. India-Canada trade talks stalled. What happened?
Mr Trudeau’s visit to India also included sharp comments from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about allowing “anti-India” activities on Canadian soil.
He later said that his country would “always defend freedom of expression…of conscience…peaceful protest” but would also “always prevent violence and push back hatred.”
Canada Parliament honored Nijjar
In June, in a move that drew a furious reaction from India, the Canadian Parliament observed a moment of silence on the one-year anniversary of Nijjar’s death.
The Indian government issued a strong statement saying it would “naturally oppose any move that gives political space to extremism and advocacy of violence”.
Read | “We protest…”: India on Canada Parliament honoring Khalistani terrorist
The Indian Consulate in Vancouver paid tribute to the 329 victims of the 1985 bombing of an Air India Montreal-London flight by Khalistani terrorists.
On that subject, Indian-origin Canadian MP Chandra Arya said that the ideology responsible for the terrorist attack is still alive among some people in his country.
What does America say?
The United States – which last month summoned the Indian government after Pannun filed a civil suit accusing him of plotting the murder – has said it is “deeply concerned” by the claims and in May this year, Delhi Was asked to take action on the allegations. “Examine it very seriously”.
The Government of India has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the allegations.
with inputs from agencies
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