Canada-India Relations Strained After Canadian Sikh’s Assassination
The recent assassination of a Canadian Sikh man, which took place in Canada, has sparked tensions between the governments of India and Canada. The victim, who was known to be involved in advocating for an independent Sikh state, was allegedly organizing an unofficial referendum in India at the time of his death. Indian authorities had previously announced a cash reward for information leading to his arrest, accusing him of involvement in an attack on a Hindu priest.
The Sikh independence movement, also known as Khalistan, is banned in India due to concerns about national security. However, the movement still has some support in northern India as well as countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, which have sizable Sikh populations.
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit last week. Trudeau emphasized that any involvement by the Indian government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil would be an unacceptable violation of Canadian sovereignty. He called on India to cooperate with Canada in the investigation.
In response, India’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegations made by Trudeau, calling them absurd and motivated. The ministry accused Canada of sheltering Khalistani terrorists and extremists, posing a threat to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As a consequence of the strained relations, Canada has expelled a top Indian diplomat, who was allegedly the head of Indian intelligence in Canada. The expulsion comes amidst canceled trade talks and a canceled trade mission to India.
Canada’s Public Safety Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, confirmed that Canada’s national security adviser and the head of its spy service have traveled to India to confront Indian intelligence agencies with the allegations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are leading an active homicide investigation into the assassination.
The issue has also garnered international attention, with Trudeau discussing it with U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The Canadian Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, plans to raise the issue with her counterparts in the G7.
The World Sikh Organization of Canada described the victim as an outspoken supporter of Khalistan who had spoken about threats to his life and his belief that he was targeted by Indian intelligence agencies.
Political scientist Janice Stein of the University of Toronto expressed disbelief that a Canadian citizen could be killed on Canadian soil, highlighting the potential impact on Canada’s relations with India and China, given their large diasporas in Canada.
The Indian government has a history of cracking down on Sikh separatism due to the armed insurgency in the 1980s for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan. In recent times, the term Khalistanis has been used by the Indian government to discredit Sikh protesters, such as the farmers protesting agriculture laws in 2021.
The situation between Canada and India remains tense as investigations continue into the assassination, and both countries seek to address the allegations and concerns raised.
