OTTAWA – India’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, launched scathing accusations against Canada, alleging the country’s complicity in sheltering criminals from India. His remarks came in the wake of recent RCMP arrests related to the homicide of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, intensifying diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Jaishankar singled out Canada as the primary supporter of what he described as a violent Sikh separatist movement, particularly targeting the country’s alleged role in harboring individuals advocating for Khalistan, a proposed Sikh homeland independent of India.
The RCMP’s arrest of three Indian nationals in connection with Nijjar’s murder, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, last June, further exacerbated the strained relations. Nijjar’s fervent activism for Khalistan had sparked widespread protests and demonstrations against Indian diplomatic entities in Canada, notably escalating after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted at Indian involvement in the assassination.
Addressing a forum in Bhubaneswar, Jaishankar fielded inquiries regarding Canada’s purported tolerance of separatist sentiments and the recent arrests. He criticized Canadian political parties, alleging they pander to Sikh separatists for electoral gains, thus legitimizing extremism under the guise of free speech.
Jaishankar raised concerns over threats to Indian diplomatic missions and personnel in Canada, urging Foreign Minister Melanie Joly to contemplate the repercussions if similar situations were to occur in Canada. He reiterated India’s stance that Canada’s leniency towards criminal elements affiliated with Sikh separatists poses a significant security threat, pointing out the issuance of visas to wanted criminals from Punjab, the epicenter of the Khalistan movement.
While New Delhi has repeatedly voiced its apprehensions regarding Canada’s stance on terrorism, Ottawa maintains that India has failed to substantiate its allegations under Canadian legal standards. The differing interpretations of terrorism and the rule of law have led to diplomatic friction, with Canada offering legal workshops to Indian officials to bridge the gap.
Jaishankar warned of potential repercussions against calls for Khalistan separatism, emphasizing that such movements would face resistance. However, he did not specify the nature or origin of potential countermeasures, leaving room for speculation about India’s response.
India’s high commission in Ottawa refrained from immediate comment on Jaishankar’s remarks, while Joly’s office reiterated its preference for private diplomacy. Human Rights Watch has urged India to investigate Nijjar’s murder, citing concerns over civil rights violations and the government’s nationalist rhetoric.
The ongoing discord underscores deep-seated diplomatic strains between India and Canada, rooted in divergent views on separatism, terrorism, and civil liberties.