India announced on Tuesday that it had expelled a Canadian diplomat, giving them just five days’ notice to leave the country. This move comes just hours after Canada expelled India’s top intelligence agent, accusing the South Asian nation of involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. The diplomatic spat marks the latest chapter in an escalating conflict between the two nations.
The tensions flared when Canada issued a statement on Monday stating that it was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder of the Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Nijjar (the chief of pro-Khalistan outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) ), in British Columbia back in June. In response, the Canadian high commissioner, the equivalent of an ambassador, in New Delhi was summoned and informed of India’s decision to expel a Canadian diplomat, as confirmed by India’s foreign ministry in a statement.
India’s foreign ministry issued a statement explaining its decision, saying, “The decision reflects the government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.”
The ministry went on to reject the allegations made by Canada, dismissing them as “absurd” and politically motivated. India accused Canada of providing shelter to “Khalistani terrorists and extremists” who pose a threat to India’s security. The term “Khalistan” refers to the independent state that Sikh separatists seek to establish, which would include parts of India’s Punjab state.
It was revealed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “completely rejected” these allegations when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented them to him. India’s foreign ministry urged the Canadian government to take prompt and effective legal action against any anti-India elements operating from Canadian soil.
The allegation that India’s government was involved in a political killing in Canada is expected to further strain relations between the two countries. Just earlier this month, Canada had suspended ongoing negotiations on a trade deal with India, negotiations that were originally slated for completion this year. The suspension was attributed to the allegations surrounding the assassination.
Mr. Nijjar ( the chief of pro-Khalistan outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) ) becomes the third prominent Sikh figure to pass away unexpectedly in recent months.
Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Avtar Singh Khanda, reportedly the leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force, experienced an abrupt demise in Birmingham back in June.
Similarly, Paramjit Singh Panjwar, who had been designated as a terrorist by India, was shot dead in Lahore, the city of Pakistan.
This heightened tension between Delhi and Ottawa is set against the backdrop of increased pressure from the Indian government on the governments of three nations with significant Sikh populations: Canada, Australia, and the UK.
They have openly stated that their inability to address what they refer to as “Sikh extremism” could hinder positive relations.
Australian authorities have indicated their intention to investigate instances of Hindu temple vandalism carried out by pro-Khalistan activists. However, they have emphasized that they will not prevent Australian Sikhs from expressing their views regarding an independent homeland.
Furthermore, during the recent G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi notably excluded Prime Minister Trudeau from the list of leaders with whom he held formal bilateral meetings, underscoring the deteriorating diplomatic ties.
Hardeep Nijjar, the slain Sikh separatist leader and the chief of pro-Khalistan outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was known for his advocacy of the creation of an independent Sikh nation, Khalistan, which would encompass parts of India’s Punjab state. India had previously declared him a wanted terrorist due to his alleged involvement in separatist activities. Khalistan outfits are mostly supported by Pakistan.
Reacting to the ongoing dispute, Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, stated, “The Indian National Congress has always believed that our country’s fight against terrorism has to be uncompromising, especially when terrorism threatens India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity. Our country’s interests and concerns must be kept paramount at all times.”
As the diplomatic row between India and Canada escalates, the international community will be closely watching for any further developments and efforts to resolve this contentious issue.
In recent years, the bilateral trade between India and Canada has experienced significant growth, reaching a total of USD 8.16 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23.
India’s exports to Canada, totaling USD 4.1 billion, encompass a range of products such as pharmaceuticals, gems and jewelry, textiles, and machinery. On the other hand, Canada’s exports to India, amounting to USD 4.06 billion, include items like pulses, timber, pulp and paper, as well as mining products.
Regarding investments, it has been noted that Canadian pension funds remain committed to investing in India due to the country’s vast market and the favorable returns on invested capital. By the conclusion of 2022, Canadian pension funds had already poured in more than USD 45 billion into India, establishing it as the fourth-largest recipient of Canadian foreign direct investment (FDI) globally.
The primary sectors that attract Canadian pension fund investments in India are infrastructure, renewable energy, technology, and financial services.
India and Canada enjoy a robust educational partnership, with more than 200 collaborative agreements in place between Indian and Canadian educational institutions.
Furthermore, Canada hosts a substantial number of international students from India, with over 320,000 Indian students enrolled in Canadian institutions. This significant enrollment makes Indian students the largest international student group in Canada, according to the Global Talent Retention Initiative (GTRI).
The contributions of Indian students to the Canadian economy are also substantial. In 2021, Indian students made a noteworthy financial impact by contributing USD 4.9 billion to the Canadian economy, as reported by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE).
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been designated as a terrorist, met his demise in June of this year within Canada’s British Columbia province. Nijjar had been declared “wanted” in four cases by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), all related to Sikh radicalism. He held the position of chief within the pro-Khalistan group known as the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). This organization had established connections with Sikh For Justice, an entity led by another pro-Khalistan figure named Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The incident leading to Nijjar’s death took place at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara, where he had reportedly taken control through force and assumed the position of its president. Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar ?
This article has been written by VOLF.TV TEAM , content strategy and produced by Manjeet Kumar.
