India-Canada tensions: PM Trudeau says not trying to provoke India but...; top developments

In his speech, Trudeau told the lawmakers that any involvement of a foreign government in killing a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty (Photo: Reuters)

As tensions escalated overnight over the murder of a Sikh extremist leader in Surrey in June, India, in a blow to Canada, expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after the latter expelled an Indian diplomat on September 19. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also asked the Canadian diplomat to leave India within the next five days.

Canada had expelled the Indian diplomat as it was investigating what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called "credible allegations" of the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Such claims were outrightly rejected by New Delhi as "absurd" and "motivated".

Here are the top developments of the India-Canada row, which may have an impact on future trade relations:

--In a fresh development, PM Trudeau said that Canada is not trying to provoke India, but Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly. "The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate," reported news agency Reuters.

--Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.

--"Over the past number of weeks, 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," Canadian PM Trudeau said on September 19 in a speech to the House of Commons.

Catch live updates on India-Canada standoff here

--In his speech, Trudeau told the lawmakers that any involvement of a foreign government in killing 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."

--Reacting sharply to the allegations, India rejected Trudeau's claims, calling them "absurd and motivated". "Allegations of the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the MEA said in a statement in New Delhi.

ALSO READ: Indo-Canada ties plumb new lows on Trudeau's accusations against India

-- The United States said that it is “deeply concerned” at the allegations levelled by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday against the Indian government over the assassination of a Sikh activist in Surrey. “We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau,” said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, as per the news agency Associated Press.

--Britain, too, took cognisance of the tensions between the two countries but reiterated that the trade talks between UK and India will continue, reported news agency Reuters.

--Trudeau's stance gathered lot of reactions from several Indian dignitaries, including former R&AW Chief Vikram Sood. He said,"Two sovereign nations must talk about things. But this man (Justin Trudeau) has just gone around and decided that he has to do it like this. His visit to India in G20, he wasn't very happy with that, nor was he with his 2018 visit... If you have relations, you maintain them. Go by the laid down principles if you are a friendly country. We are not enemies but he makes it look as if we are..."

ALSO READ: Nijjar death row: Indo-Canada tensions flare up as New Delhi expels Canadian diplomat

--In a larger scheme of things, bilateral ties between India and Canada have been tense in recent months. The fresh allegations levelled by the Canadian prime minister will further sour the already strained relations between New Delhi and Ottawa at a time when India is unhappy with Canada's continuous support of the Khalistani movement on its soil.

--Earlier this month, Canada suspended trade negotiations with India, which were slated to have been concluded by the end of this year.

--Moreover, during the G20 Summit 2023 in New Delhi last week, PM Modi did not hold bilateral discussions with Trudeau. The Centre later said that Modi conveyed his concerns to Trudeau about the protests in Canada against India in demand of Khalistan as a separate state carved out of Punjab.

ALSO READ: Tense diplomatic relations may not impact trade, investment ties between India, Canada: Experts

--Canada-based Nijjar was designated a 'terrorist' by India under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020 and his property in the country was attached by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2020.

--Interpol Red Corner Notice was also issued against him in 2016. The local police of Surrey had also put Nijjar under house arrest temporarily in 2018 on suspicion of his terror involvement but he was released later.

--Canada has a Sikh population of more than 770,000 (about 2 per cent of its total population).

(With agency inputs)