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India refutes Canadian allegations
The expulsion of a top Indian diplomat by Canada on so-called “credible” allegations that New Delhi masterminded the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar of the Khalistan Tiger Force set the stage for a free fall in bilateral relations.
Stressing that allegations about India’s involvement in acts of violence in Canada are “absurd and motivated” New Delhi has once again called on Ottawa to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating in its soil. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement argued that “such unsubstantiated allegations” only shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
“We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law. Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern”, the MEA said in a strongly worded response adding that Canadian political figures who have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remain a matter of deep concern.
“ The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new. We reject any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments. We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil”, the Ministry maintained.
The expulsion of a top Indian diplomat by Canada on so-called “credible” allegations of New Delhi masterminding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar of the Khalistan Tiger Force set the stage for a free fall in bilateral relations. If diplomatic routine is anything to go by, it will be India’s turn to expel one or several of Canadian diplomats. The Canadian foreign minister has identified the expelled diplomat as the “Head” of Indian intelligence in Ottawa mission, in this case supposedly belonging to the Research and Analysis Wing, RAW.
There was perceptible distance between New Delhi and Ottawa at the recently concluded Summit of the Group of 20. The Trudeau-Narendra Modi meeting was not a bilateral but a “pull aside”; for unexplained reasons the Canadian leader did not attend the dinner hosted by the President of India on the first day of the meeting; and Trudeau was held back for about 36 hours as the Air Force plane that brought him to the G 20 developed a mechanic al snag. For the duration of the delay the Prime Minister and his delegation stayed at the hotel—no appointments were asked or offered was the refrain.
It is said that at the G 20, Prime Minister Modi is said to have expressed “strong concerns” on Canada’s handling of the Khalistani movement taking objection to calls of secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats. Routinely India’s foreign office and official spokespersons have rejected the notion that actions of separatists fall under the category of free speech and expression. Canada has a large Indian diaspora and is said to account for about 3 per cent of the country’s population with the Sikh community numbering more than 770,000.
Ottawa seems to have upped the ante with its Foreign Minister saying that Prime Minister Trudeau has discussed the matter with President Joe Biden of the United States and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom; and that the matter would also be raised with other members of the G 7 ahead of the start of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
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