Things seemed as though they were improving as the diplomatic relations between India and Canada began to look very promising. The two countries were under the impression that they would be coming to a trade agreement by the end of this year. However, the peaceful talks have been at a standstill as tensions between the two nations grew during the G20 summit.
Now we can understand why.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada informed the House of Commons that authorities had been investigating if India was responsible for a state-sponsored assassination.
This is an extreme low point in their relationship as India has already criticized Trudeau’s administration for not taking action against Sikh separatists in Canada.
Trudeau clarified that any involvement from another nation in killing a Canadian citizen is ‘unacceptable violation of our sovereignty’.
Justin Trudeau makes a surprise announcement on national security: Canadian authorities are pursuing credible allegations that “agents of the government of India” were behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader in B.C. designated a terrorist in New… pic.twitter.com/J5vbkb41Hj
— Andy Lee – Special Rebel Rapporteur (@RealAndyLeeShow) September 18, 2023
According to Reuters:
“Canada said on Monday it had credible information linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June and said it had expelled a senior Indian intelligence official. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen was ‘an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty’. ‘Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India’ and Nijjar’s death, Trudeau said in an emergency statement to the House of Commons. ‘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’.”
In June, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia. He was advocating for the formation of Khalistani State and had been labelled as terrorist by India.
Canada has one of the highest populations of Sikhs outside Punjab, India’s homeland.
This turn of events has caused great disappointment among Indians living abroad who viewed trade deal between India and Canada as an opportunity to further strengthen ties between both countries however, this incident might put an end to such aspirations.
The deteriorating situation between these countries is concerning as it can cause major international issues if it doesn’t get resolved soon.
