19-9-2023 (OTTAWA) In a shocking revelation, Canada disclosed on Monday (Sep 18) that it possesses credible intelligence connecting Indian government agents to the assassination of a prominent Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia back in June. As a consequence, Canada took the unprecedented step of expelling a senior Indian intelligence official.
This announcement heralds a significant deterioration in bilateral relations between the two nations, at a time when India is already expressing discontent over Canada’s perceived leniency toward Sikh protesters advocating for their independent homeland.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vehemently condemned any foreign government’s involvement in the murder of a Canadian citizen, denouncing it as “an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
The victim in question, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, met a tragic end when he was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Nijjar was an ardent advocate for a Sikh homeland, aspiring to establish an independent Khalistani state. India had classified him as a “terrorist” in July 2020, as reported by India’s The Tribune newspaper.
Addressing the House of Commons in an emergency statement, Trudeau revealed, “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India” and Nijjar’s untimely demise. He continued, “Canada has declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government. Last week at the G20, I brought them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi in no uncertain terms.”
Despite the gravity of these allegations, the Indian high commission (embassy) in Ottawa remained conspicuously silent, declining to comment on the matter.
In a retaliatory measure, New Delhi had previously conveyed strong concerns about protests in Canada against India to Prime Minister Trudeau.
Canada boasts the highest population of Sikhs outside their native Punjab in India, and the country has been a hotspot for numerous demonstrations that have unsettled India. Approximately 1.4 million people of Indian origin reside in Canada, constituting one of the largest overseas Indian communities. Furthermore, the 2021 Census reported that about 770,000 individuals identified Sikhism as their religion.
Earlier this year, both nations had expressed the possibility of finalizing a trade deal by the end of 2023. However, these discussions have now come to a standstill, with Canada offering scant details while India citing “certain political developments” as the reason.
In 2022, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to a mere C$13.7 billion out of a total Canadian economy worth C$1.52 trillion, as per Statistics Canada.
Although Prime Minister Trudeau refrained from directly accusing India of involvement, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly adopted a more cautious stance, stating that the allegations would be deemed unacceptable “if proven true.” Joly refrained from disclosing further details but confirmed the expulsion of the Indian head of intelligence in Canada.
Trudeau, maintaining his stern stance, declared, “In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the government of India to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter.”
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc disclosed that several senior Canadian government officials had recently visited India to express Ottawa’s concerns.
Notably, in April, India had requested increased monitoring of UK-based supporters of a Sikh separatist movement from Britain. The request stemmed from a flag-bearing incident where protesters brandishing “Khalistan” banners removed the Indian flag from a diplomatic mission’s building in London, much to India’s dismay.
