In a bold move, the Government of India has taken decisive action against Canada following escalating tensions over allegations related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a known Khalistani terrorist. Ottawa’s claim that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s death has been met with swift and firm rejection from New Delhi, as well as a series of retaliatory diplomatic steps. This comes in response to what India views as Canada’s increasingly provocative stance and its decades-long tolerance of anti-India extremist elements operating on its soil.
BREAKING: TRUDEAU ADMITS HE DIDN'T PROVIDE INDIA WITH REAL PROOF ON NIJJAR KILLING
— Shashank Mattoo 🇮🇳 (@MattooShashank) October 16, 2024
Canada only provided intelligence and no proof before publicly accusing India of killing Nijjar pic.twitter.com/MQ1NaM3yFr
On October 14, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government took the extraordinary step of naming Sanjay Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, as a “person of interest” in the ongoing investigation into Nijjar’s murder. The move stops just short of declaring the envoy persona non grata but has been perceived by India as a grave diplomatic insult. In response, India has withdrawn its High Commissioner from Canada and expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting head of Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi.
The Indian government has categorically denied any involvement in Nijjar’s death and expressed frustration with Canada’s handling of the situation. Despite Ottawa’s claims of “credible” evidence implicating India, no such evidence has been presented publicly or provided to Indian authorities. India’s response to this lack of transparency has been one of unequivocal condemnation.
At the heart of the issue is Canada’s long-standing tolerance of Khalistani separatist activities. For decades, Canada has been home to individuals and organizations openly advocating for the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh state carved out of India. These groups have a well-documented history of involvement in terrorist activities, including the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, which claimed 328 lives. The perpetrators of that attack, Babbar Khalsa, were based in Canada, and India’s attempts to extradite their leader, Talwinder Parmar, were met with resistance from the Canadian government, led at the time by Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau’s father.
The current Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has taken this tolerance to new heights, critics argue, driven by political considerations. Trudeau’s Liberal Party is reliant on the support of Sikh voters, who make up around 2.12% of Canada’s population, but hold significant political influence. Despite their small numbers, pro-Khalistani elements have disproportionately funded Trudeau’s campaigns and hold four out of 30 cabinet positions, including the defense ministry.
Political analysts believe Trudeau’s support for Sikh separatists is motivated by his need to secure votes from the Sikh community, particularly from factions sympathetic to the Khalistan movement. His minority government, propped up by the New Democratic Party led by Jagmeet Singh, a known Khalistan supporter, has made Trudeau’s position precarious. With elections scheduled for October 2025, Trudeau’s focus on maintaining this political base is seen as a driving factor behind his stance on the Nijjar issue.
NEW: Justin Trudeau asked to step down as Canada’s PM by his own MPs
— Shashank Mattoo 🇮🇳 (@MattooShashank) October 16, 2024
Liberal Party MP Sean Casey openly calls for Trudeau to resign pic.twitter.com/sHDCwd2zOY
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the man at the center of this diplomatic crisis, was no ordinary activist. He was a leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, an extremist group with well-established links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. Nijjar had been involved in violent campaigns against India, and Indian authorities had provided evidence of his role in targeted killings. He was also subject to a Red Corner Notice by Interpol, marking him as a wanted terrorist.
I find it offensive to call Hardeep Nijar a "Canadian citizen"
— The Pleb 🇨🇦 Reporter (@truckdriverpleb) October 15, 2024
This man was a terrorist who entered our country illegally 3 times with fake documents
I have ZERO sympathy for this criminal POS pic.twitter.com/azOCj1njbO
Despite this, Canada allowed Nijjar to reside freely, ignoring both his false entry into the country and his extremist activities. Many observers believe that Nijjar’s murder was more likely the result of infighting within extremist Sikh factions in Canada, rather than any foreign conspiracy, a theory dismissed by Trudeau in favor of political posturing.
India’s diplomatic measures signal that it will not tolerate any country, even a friendly democracy, harboring individuals and groups that threaten its sovereignty. The Indian government has also raised concerns about the broader issue of Western hypocrisy when it comes to countering terrorism. While nations like Canada profess commitment to fighting terrorism globally, they have been conspicuously silent on separatist movements like Khalistan that threaten India’s territorial integrity.
Looking forward, India has made it clear that relations with Canada will remain strained as long as the Trudeau government continues to support extremist elements. Should Trudeau persist with these policies, some have suggested that India might even consider calling for international sanctions against Canada for its complicity in fostering terrorism.
For now, the resolution of this crisis may depend on the outcome of Canada’s next general election. There is hope that a new government might adopt a more balanced and pragmatic approach to relations with India. Many Canadians, including members of the Sikh and Hindu communities, are uncomfortable with the way a violent minority is shaping the country’s foreign policy. In the meantime, India will continue to assert its right to protect its sovereignty, while exposing the contradictions in Canada’s approach to counterterrorism on the global stage.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Khalsa Vox or its members.
