Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar said Canadian politics gave space to Khalistani forces and allowed them to indulge in actions that hurt India-Canada bilateral relations. He said those steps were not in the interest of Canada or India.
“The issue at heart is the fact that in Canadian politics, these Khalistani forces have been given a lot of space and have been allowed to indulge in activities which I think are damaging to the relationship, clearly not in India’s interest, and not in Canada’s interest either,” S Jaishankar said in an interview with news agency ANI. “But, unfortunately, that is the state of their politics,” he further added.
Bilateral ties between India and Canada have hit a low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of playing a role in the murder of Khalistani separatist-terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in September 2023. Nijjar was found murdered near the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey.
Justin Trudeau is yet to present any evidence to back his claim and India has responded to the allegations by saying that they are ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’. India has also asked Canada for relevant information related to the case.
Diplomatic relationship was also downgraded between both nations as India asked Canada, in a tit-for-tat move, to reduce diplomatic presence in New Delhi. Earlier, Canada told India to reduce diplomatic presence in Ottawa.
Trudeau also paused the discussions regarding the India-Canada Early Progress Trade Agreement and chose not to give any reason for stopping the discussions.
India on several occasions informed Canada that its soil is being used by secessionists and anti-India elements. New Delhi claims that Canada has not taken its concerns seriously. A report by the aforementioned news agency said that Canada’s reluctance to act on the Khalistan issue stems from vote bank politics.
The Khalistan secessionist movement that aims to carve out Punjab as a separate nation is outlawed in India and considered a national security threat by the government. Groups and individuals associated with the movement are also listed as “terrorist organisations” under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
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