India’s Ministry of External Affairs has responded forcefully to Canada’s handling of the Nijjar case, repeatedly stating that Ottawa has failed to present credible evidence linking India to the incident.
In a surprising disclosure, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the presence of Khalistani supporters in Canada. However, he clarified that these individuals do not represent Canada’s Sikh community as a whole. Speaking during a Diwali celebration event at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, Trudeau sought to separate the actions of certain Khalistani sympathizers from the broader Sikh population, noting, “There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole.”
Trudeau’s comments follow mounting diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani figure who was gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. The Indian government had classified Nijjar as a wanted terrorist. Relations took a sharp downturn in September 2023 when Trudeau publicly alleged Indian agents’ involvement in Nijjar’s death. Canada escalated the issue by labeling the Indian High Commissioner as a “person of interest” in the case.
In his address, Trudeau also pointed out that, similar to Khalistani supporters, there are Hindu Canadians who back Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. However, he emphasized that these supporters do not define the entire Hindu community in Canada. He said, “There are supporters of the Modi government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole.” His comments appear to be an attempt to address concerns that certain political factions may be misrepresented within the broader Canadian Indian diaspora.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has responded forcefully to Canada’s handling of the Nijjar case, repeatedly stating that Ottawa has failed to present credible evidence linking India to the incident. Furthermore, Indian officials have criticized Trudeau, accusing him of indulging in “vote bank politics” and not adequately addressing separatist activities on Canadian soil. As relations soured, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and downgraded its diplomatic presence in Canada, while recalling its own High Commissioner.
As tensions remain unresolved, India continues to press Canada for evidence of the alleged involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing, though Canada has yet to provide any substantial proof. The strained relations underscore the complexity of managing internal security issues while balancing international diplomatic ties.
