India Canada News Highlights: New Delhi strongly rejects Ottawa's fresh charges

Amid an escalation in the diplomatic row between India and Canada over separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing, the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) Tuesday urged constructive dialogue to safeguard the rights of the Sikh community across both nations.

Recent events have highlighted significant challenges faced by Sikhs, particularly regarding issues of identity, safety, and political representation, the NAPA said.

The association said it is deeply concerned about the potential ramifications of the strained diplomatic relations on the Sikh diaspora, which has long been a bridge between the two cultures.

The India-Canada diplomatic row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar escalated further on Tuesday with Ottawa hinting at possible sanctions against India in view of certain findings in the case and New Delhi vehemently trashing the charges.

The Canadian authorities also attempted to link the Bishnoi gang with Indian government agents in carrying out covert operations including violent criminal activities in Canada and claimed to have clear evidence to back the charges.

As the ties between the two countries hit rock bottom, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly did not rule out imposing sanctions against India saying "everything is on the table".

On India-Canada row, Former IFS officer and President of India Habitat Centre, Bhaswati Mukherjee says, “The sharp statement that came from the Canadian side, was extremely provocative. It said that our high commissioner to Canada was the representative of the president of India to Canada and is a suspect in our murder assassination case, which implies that they are neither respecting the Indian convention nor are they giving any indication that they will issue his safety. And they are putting a red cloth on those who would then move out to try to murder him. Since we are not a banana Republican, but a proud, democratic, independent, sovereign country, we reacted sharply because no country in the world, unless it was a banana republic, would have reacted in any...”

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum says, “Our take on this is that the Americans realise that there is a nuanced problem. The difference between the Americans and the Canadians, the Canadian seems to be flying by the seat of Justin Trudeau’s pants... The Americans recognize the complexity of the issue. This isn't simply a matter of accusing India of political gain. Look, the San Francisco consulate has been attacked twice by Sikh extremists, by Khalistani militants. The Americans understand at this point that the Khalistani militants are engaged in organized crime and therefore they recognize that not all is as meets the eye. That's why the Indians seem to also be much more willing to trust the American investigation because the American investigation is much less designed to protect a single prime minister and much more designed to get to the heart of the matter....”

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah says, “I regret this situation and we should establish a friendship...How did they (Canada) receive the information (alleged involvement of agents of the Indian government in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder) they were discussing? It was given to Canada by the U.S. American intelligence informed Canada that the people from India's R&AW were involved in Nijjar's murder. They provided evidence, which Canada has now presented to the Indian government. I don't know what the Indian government will do, but we should not abandon the path of friendship...”

A diplomatic row that has strained bilateral relations between India and Canada for over a year has boiled over as the countries expelled each other’s top diplomats over the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada and allegations of other crimes.

Experts say the diplomatic standoff will make it difficult for both countries to move forward with a once-promising partnership, and could impact India’s ambitions as it tries to project itself as a rising world power.

“India-Canada bilateral relations, which have been on a downslide since last year, will take a further hit which will take a long time to repair,” said Praveen Donthi, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.

When asked about the possibility of sanctions against India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that “everything is on the table”.  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of supporting criminal activities targeting Canadian citizens. In response to this, India withdrew its High Commissioner to Canada and expelled six Canadian diplomats, denying the allegations.

Members of the Indian Diaspora in Canada raised concerns over the souring of ties between India and Canada and are calling for a peaceful resolution of the matter. Speaking exclusively to ANI, leading Canadian social activist Baljit Singh Bawa called it “disheartening news” and that the turn of events happened due to “politically driven statements” given because of “someone’s personal ego or favouring a community".

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take Opposition leaders into confidence in the matter of worsening India-Canada relations. "India’s diplomatic standoff with Canada is escalating disturbingly by the day. PM @narendramodi must immediately take the opposition into confidence on this highly sensitive and grave issue. India’s foreign policy has always been based on building domestic consensus not on unilateralism," Ghose wrote on X.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday accused India of choosing to use its diplomats and organised crime to attack its citizens and make them feel unsafe on their soil, calling it a “monumental mistake” by New Delhi, news agency PTI reported.

"...There are elements within the Khalistani apparatus, they are all over this...The Khalistani elements are in full attack mode. They are taking this as a total victory and slamming India...Justin Trudeau is set to speak later today...But the vast majority of Canadians are incredibly fed up with this government. Don't believe the institutions. Don't see the media as credible. Doesn't see Justin Trudeau as credible. So many Canadians will just look at this, shrug their shoulders and probably even side with India..." Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman told ANI.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh  posted on X and said the party hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “will take the Leader of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, and the leaders of other political parties into confidence immediately on the extremely sensitive and delicate issue".

"India has every right to target the terrorists responsible for killing hundreds and inciting violence. Would the US tolerate Canada harbouring Osama bin Laden? That’s the situation in Canada, where a incompetent politician desperate for reelection is damaging relationships," says Indian-American academic, entrepreneur and author Vivek Wadhwa.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada has shared with its Five Eyes partners, the United Stated in particular, all information they have related to the allegations of the involvement of Indian officials in the killing of a Canadian national last year.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alleged that Indian government "agents" were collaborating with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to spread terror on Canadian soil.  “What we have seen is the use of organised crime elements, and it’s been publicly attributed to one organised crime gang in particular the Bishnoi group is connected to the agents of India," RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gaubin said in a press conference in Ottawa on Monday

While summoning the Canadian Charge d’Affaires and rejecting Canada’s allegations against Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other Indian diplomats in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India “reserves the right to take further steps in response to these latest efforts of the Canadian government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats”.

"It (India) is targeting South Asian community but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada...What we have seen is, from an RCMP perspective, they use organised crime elements. It has been publically attributed and claimed by one organised crime group in particular - Bishnoi Group...We believe that the group is connected to agents of the Government of India," says Brigitte Gauvin, Assistant Commissioner, Federal Policing, National Security, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Michael Kugelman, a US-based foreign policy expert and the Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center said, "One could not have imagined that things in this relationship could get worse, but they have."

"This is a relationship that's now hit rock bottom and indeed, looking at recent developments, certainly is reminiscent of India's relations with Pakistan in terms of these extremely serious allegations being made, in terms of senior diplomats being expelled, as well as the use of blistering language in government statements, it's all there and of course, the core allegation that we're hearing from India that Canada is sheltering and sponsoring anti-India terrorists. This is what we're used to hearing India say about Pakistan," he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with his United Kingdom counterpart Keir Starmer, about the targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India, according to reports.

Indian decided to expel following six Canadian diplomats:

Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner

Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner

Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary

lan Ross David Trites, First Secretary

Mr. Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary

Paula Orjuela, First Secretary

They have been asked to leave India by or before 11.59 p.m. on October 19.

Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has said that foreign interference from any country, including India, is unacceptable. In an official statement, Poilievre said, “The news and allegations today from the RCMP are extremely concerning and must be taken very seriously. Any foreign interference from any country, including India, is unacceptable and must be stopped. Our government’s first job is to keep our citizens safe from foreign threats.”