The already strained relations between India and Canada have hit another low point over allegations surrounding Khalistani militancy and organized crime originating from India’s Punjab region. At the center of this diplomatic fracas is the murder case of Ripudaman Singh Nijjar and pointed accusations made by Canadian officials towards India.
The Nijjar Murder and Trudeau’s Allegations
In June 2022, Ripudaman Singh Nijjar, a former Khalistani militant acquitted in the 1985 Air India bombings case, was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey. Months later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised eyebrows by alleging Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s killing, igniting a diplomatic row with New Delhi.
India’s Sharp Rebuke
India has firmly denied any role in the murder and slammed Canada’s failure to curb anti-India activities by Khalistani outfits operating from its soil. During a recent event, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar minced no words, stating: “But, as I said, one of our concerns which we have been telling them is that, you know, they have allowed organized crime from India, specifically from Punjab, to operate in Canada.”Jaishankar’s remarks echoed India’s long-standing grievances over Canada turning a blind eye to pro-Khalistan elements engaging in secessionist activities and funding militancy in Punjab.
Arrests and Escalating Tensions
Adding fuel to the fire, three Indian nationals were arrested in the Canadian city of Edmonton last week, with Indian authorities seeking updates on the detentions. Sanjay Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, adopted a cautious stance, saying: “I understand that the arrests have been made as a result of investigations conducted by the relevant Canadian law enforcement agencies. This issue is internal to Canada and therefore we have no comments to offer in this regard.”
The Rising Khalistani Threat
The recent flare-up underscores the persistent Khalistani issue that has long been a thorn in India-Canada relations. The Khalistani movement, which aims to create a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan carved out of the Indian state of Punjab, has found support among some members of the Sikh diaspora in Canada.Indian officials have repeatedly urged their Canadian counterparts to crackdown on pro-Khalistan outfits, accusing them of financing militancy and carrying out anti-India propaganda from Canadian soil. However, Canada’s stance of protecting free speech has often been at odds with India’s security concerns.
A Complicated History
The Khalistani conflict has deep roots, stemming from the separatist insurgency that raged in Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s. The movement’s alleged links to the 1985 Air India bombings, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Canadian history, further complicates the matter.As the diplomatic tensions continue to simmer, both nations face the delicate task of addressing security concerns while upholding democratic values of free speech and dissent. Resolving this long-standing impasse will require deft handling and a willingness to find common ground on this thorny issue that has strained India-Canada ties for decades.
