What’s behind the growing tensions between India and Canada?
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Hashim Sheikh
- . September 19, 2023
- . Update: September 19, 2023 3:58 pm
On 19 September, the Republic of India expelled a Canadian diplomat, escalating a row between the two countries. This came hours after Canada expelled India’s top intelligence agent.
What happened between India and Canada? What’s behind the growing tensions between India and Canada? What did Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say about India? What did Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi say about Canada? Who was Sikh separatist leader?
What happened between India and Canada?
Canada had expelled an Indian diplomat on Tuesday and accused Indian government agents of playing a key role in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. Justin Trudeau said that Indian government agents might be responsible for the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He called for credible investigation of the matter.
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This move angered India. Later on, the Canadian high commissioner to the Republic of India was summoned. Olivier Sylvester, the head of Canadian intelligence in India, had also been summoned. Cameron MacKay, Canadian high commissioner to India, was asked to leave India within five days.
What’s behind the growing tensions between India and Canada?
The reason behind the growing tensions between India and Canada is the late Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Canadian prime minister said that the Indian government may have had links to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, a city in British Columbia, Canada.
Senior journalist based in Toronto, Tahir Gora, described the current situation as a very “tough phase” for India-Canada relations.
India has denied all the allegations. India also slammed Canada for accusing the Indian government agents for the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.
India’s foreign ministry said in a statement, “The decision (to expel the Canadian diplomat) reflects the government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.”
India also said that “such unsubstantiated allegations aim to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists.”
This is not the first time that India-Canada relations have deteriorated. Earlier this year, the Indian government summoned the Canadian High Commissioner over Sikh independence protests in Canada.
India is set to protest the allegations made by Canada. This move can significantly impact the India-Canada relations.
