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Canada-India Feud Explodes
Dear editor,
Feud between Canada and India has exploded to new height over last year's assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canada-based Sikh leader labeled as terrorist by India. They have now expelled their top diplomats amid escalating tensions.
Canadian police accused Indian agents of involvement in “homicides, extortion and violent acts” targeting pro-Khalistan supporters advocating a separate Sikh homeland in India. Delhi rejected the allegations as "preposterous".
There are some 770,000 Sikhs living in Canada, home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside the Indian state of Punjab. Sikh separatism - rooted in a bloody insurgency in India during the 1980s and early ’90s - continues to strain relations between the two countries.
Allegations from Canadian security services of a potential link between agents of India's government and the killing of a Canadian citizen are based on police interviews of pro-Khalistan members, while India’s denial is based on its internal investigation. Canada’s allegations have come at a time when Trudeau appears to be battling anti-incumbency at home with elections barely a year away. Sikhs exert considerable influence in Canadian politics, occupying 15 seats in the House of Commons while representing only about 2% of the population. Many of these seats are in key battlegrounds during national elections.
Indian diaspora in Canada, once predominantly Punjabi and Sikh, has become more diverse, now including a significant number of Hindus and immigrants from south India and Gujarat. There's a lot at play that explains the rapid deterioration in bilateral ties. This includes a fundamental disconnect: what India views, or projects, as a dangerous threat is seen by Canada as mere activism and dissent protected by free speech. And neither is willing to make concessions.
All may not be lost. The two countries have a long relationship. Canada hosts one of the largest Indian-origin communities, with 1.3 million residents, or about 4% of its population. India is a priority market for Canada, ranking as its 10th largest trading partner in 2022. India has also been Canada’s top source of international students since 2018.
Experts say the standoff will make it difficult for both countries to move forward with a once-promising partnership, and could impact India’s ambitions as it tries to project itself as a rising world power. India-Canada bilateral relations will take a further hit and take a long time to repair.
Girish Modi
Decatur, GA
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