Watch | India-Canada ties in numbers: from foreign students to temporary workers | Data Point

Tensions between Canada and India are at a high, after Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau said agents of the Indian government were behind the killing of a Sikh-Canadian citizen.

Canada and India have a long history. Canada is home to one of the largest communities of Indian origin, a major Indian student community and a significant Punjabi and Sikh population. The two countries also rely on each other for importing some specific inputs.

So, how closely are India and Canada tied to each other, and how bumpy have Indo-Canadian relations been? The Hindu looks at what the data says. 

Read more: India-Canada relations sour: Spotlight on immigrants, foreign students, workers and trade | Data

Script and presentation: Sonikka Loganathan

Data support: Vignesh Radhakrishnan and Sonikka Loganathan

New Delhi:
In a move towards defusing tension with India, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said Ottawa is not looking to “escalate”. His government has indicated they are holding “private” talks to maintain a “strong diplomatic footprint” in India

Here are 10 facts from this big story

New Delhi:

Tensions between India and Canada have spiked significantly over the past few days following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has termed the charges “absurd”.

The past couple of days have seen several tit-for-tat moves, with both countries expelling each other’s envoys and issuing travel advisories flagging risks in each other’s territories. In its latest move, India today suspended issue of visas to Canadian citizens “till further notice”.

Here is a look at what triggered tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa and how it snowballed into a full-blown diplomatic row

The Triggers

In March, Khalistani protests outside Indian missions and consulates in Canada prompted the centre to summon the Canadian High Commissioner. This had taken place amid a massive crackdown against Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh in Punjab. An External Affairs Ministry statement had then said it is “expected that the Canadian Government will take all steps which are required to ensure the safety of our diplomats and security of our diplomatic premises”.

About two months later, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar hit out at the Canadian administration over a rally in Brampton that featured a float depicting the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Suggesting that “votebank politics” could be the reason behind Canada not cracking down on separatists, Dr Jaishankar said, “I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence and I think it is not good for relationships and not good for Canada.”

Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killed

On June 18, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by masked gunmen in the parking area of a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia. Canada’s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team started a probe, but there have been no arrests yet.

Weeks after Nijjar’s killing, a Khalistani organisation put out flyers that depicted Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General Apoorva Srivastava as responsible for the terrorist’s murder. The two diplomats were described as “killers” in the pamphlets that announced a rally in Toronto on July 8. This prompted New Delhi to raise the issue with Canadian authorities.

Canada assured the safety of Indian diplomats and termed the “promotional material” circulated ahead of the rally “unacceptable”.

The G20 Build-Up

During the G20 summit in New Delhi from September 8-10, India sent clear signals of its dissatisfaction with Canada’s response to Khalistani activities on its soil. In a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to his counterpart Trudeau concerns about “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada”. “The nexus of such forces with organised crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats,” read India’s strongly-worded statement on the bilateral talks.

On his part, Trudeau said he had discussed Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference” with Prime Minister Modi multiple times.

Canada will always “defend freedom of expression… conscience and peaceful protest,” he told the media, adding that it will also prevent violence and push back against hatred.

“It is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law, and we did talk about foreign interference,” he said.

The frosty exchange was followed by Trudeau’s embarrassing flight troubles when he could not fly back home due to a snag on his plane. New Delhi’s offer to fly him home was turned down by the Canadian side. Trudeau eventually left for home after a 36-hour delay and a high drama as the aircraft’s snag was fixed even as a back-up plane was on the way.

The Escalation

In a shocking claim, Trudeau said on Monday that Canada’s security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” had carried out the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves,” he was quoted by news reports as saying.

New Delhi responded with a stern statement, saying “allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated”.

“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected. 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 External Affairs Ministry said.

“The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new,” it added.

When Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat, New Delhi responded with a tit-for-tat move. Both countries have issued travel advisories, cautioning against its citizens travelling to each other’s territories.

Ottawa:

Weeks before making explosive allegations implicating Indian officials in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian officials sought public condemnation of the murder from their allies, including the United States, but were met with reluctance, The Washington Post has reported.

The same highlights the diplomatic challenges faced by the Biden administration and its allies as they try to navigate relations with India, a crucial player in the region, the report noted.

The alleged assassination of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, on June 18, led to behind-the-scenes discussions among senior officials from the Five Eyes countries in the weeks leading up to the September Group of 20 summit in New Delhi.

However, no public mention was made before the summit, which was seen as an important event for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to The Washington Post.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement of “credible allegations” in the parliament caused a significant rupture in bilateral relations with India, resulting in the expulsion of an Indian diplomat in Ottawa, the report stated.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” PM Trudeau said on Monday.

However, New Delhi on Tuesday rejected Canada’s allegations of Indian agents being involved in the killing of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force and a designated ‘terrorist’.

In retaliation to the Trudeau administration expelling an Indian diplomat, New Delhi ordered a Canadian envoy, believed to be spying for the country in India, to leave within five days, the Post added in its report.

While Trudeau emphasised that Canada was not looking to provoke or escalate the situation, India has rejected its accusation as “absurd and motivated,” shifting the focus to Khalistani terrorists and extremists sheltered in Canada, The Washington Post reported.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated.”

Nijjar had been designated a terrorist by security agencies in 2020 and was accused of supporting attacks in Punjab, the report noted, adding that India sought his extradition in 2022 and linked him to the killing of a Hindu priest in Punjab that same year.

According to the report, India had been pressuring countries like Canada, Australia, Britain, and the United States, which have significant Sikh communities, to crack down on the Khalistan movement. Pro-Khalistan protests had taken place in London and San Francisco, causing tension with the Indian government.

This diplomatic controversy unfolds as Western nations seek to strengthen their geopolitical and trade partnerships with India while refraining from criticizing Prime Minister Modi’s authoritarian policies.

Michael Kugelman, a South Asia analyst, pointed out the dilemma facing Western governments, acknowledging Canada as an ally but valuing their relationship with India as a key strategic partner.

According to The Washington Post, the G20 summit in India in September was marked by tension, with Trudeau sidelined and denied formal bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi. The Khalistan issue was discussed on the summit’s sidelines, further straining relations.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that Trudeau had raised the allegations with President Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with the topic expected to be discussed at the UN General Assembly, The Washington Post reported.

In response, Washington expressed deep concern and emphasised the importance of Canada’s investigation and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Australia also raised the issue with India at senior levels.

The allegations surrounding Nijjar’s assassination have intensified the long-standing issue of Khalistan supporters in Canada, with potential ramifications for global geopolitics and foreign interference.

While the situation remains complex, it underscores the delicate balance Western nations must maintain between their allies and their strategic partnerships in a rapidly evolving global space, The Washington Post reported.

New Delhi:

Shortly after Canada Prime Minister accused India of being behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the US said it is “deeply concerned” about the allegations.

“The US was deeply concerned about the allegations disclosed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in an emailed statement.

“It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” Ms Watson said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government had “credible allegations” linking Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing with the “agents of the Government of India.”

India has rejected the allegations as “absurd and motivated”.

“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 foreign ministry said in a statement.

India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat today in a reciprocal move after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat.

“The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India,” the ministry said.

The Canadian diplomat, who is unnamed, has been asked to leave the country in five days.

Canada-based Nijjar was designated a ‘terrorist’ by India. 

The new row sent relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, already sour, to a dramatic new low. 

Tensions between the two nations flared further earlier this month during the G20 summit in Delhi, which Mr Trudeau attended.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada” during a meeting with his Canadian counterpart.