How does the recent India-Canada diplomatic row highlight the dangers of mixing domestic politics with foreign policy?

Recent diplomatic row between India and Canada which has escalated to level of both countries expelling top diplomat, is an example of perils of mixing domestic political issues with foreign polices of the country. Justin Trudeau, in an effort to appease the fringe elements of Sikh Diaspora, has started a barrage of allegations on India without any proof to substantiate the same.

June 18, 2023 an Indian Canadian, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Surrey, British Colombia. Nijjar was a pro-Khalistani element, fugitive from India, who has been designated as a terrorist by NIA in 2020.  Sept 2023 Trudeau first came out with allegations of linking Indian Government with killing of Nijjar, however, without sharing any credible elements. Now after a year of these allegation, Trudeau has upped his ante against India and Canadian Government has declared six Indian diplomat as ‘person of interest’ in the ongoing investigation. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has also come out with statement accusing India of being engaged in homicide and violent act, use of organized crime network for targeted killings, Indian diplomats and official leveraging their official positions to engage in clandestine activities. RCMP added that it generally doesn’t comment on under-investigation matters to preserve operational integrity, still it has come out with the statement. Presumably to support Trudeau who has opened a Pandora’s Box by putting half-baked allegations to gain politically in the upcoming elections.

There are clear contradictions in the statements and theories pushed by Canadian side. This is becoming more glaring as Canadian PM and its agencies are trying to explain.

PM Trudeau reiterated of credible evidences of linking agents of Indian government with killing of Nijjar in his public statement in September 2023 and on various platforms in 2024. Even RCMP, the investigation agency, has come out to support the PM in his efforts. However, while testifying at a Canadian enquiry for foreign interference, Trudeau admitted that his Government had not provided concrete evidences but had only shared intelligence related to Nijjar’s killing. “India asked for evidence, but we could only provide intelligence. We wanted to collaborate, but they insisted on proof” Trudeau said. His testimony confirmed what India has been saying consistently all alone. This is also putting question on direction on investigation by RCMP whether it has been doing a politically motivated investigation.

The second major allegation has been about India’s diplomatic staff being engaged in espionage activities in Canada. This was used as a ground to expel six Indian diplomats including Indian High Commissioner (IHC) Sanjeev Kumar Verma. RCMP has failed to mention the threats and hostile atmosphere against Indian officials posted in Canada. March 23, 2023, pro-Khalistani Elements (PKEs) breached the security perimeter of IHC in Ottawa, putting a Khalistani flag on the wall and engaging in arson activities. November 16, 2023 Indian consulate members have to be escorted out with the help of local police from an official element in Abbotsford, BC, because of threats posed by PKEs. Sustained movement that called for violent threats on Indian diplomats prompted India to shut down consular service in Ottawa temporarily in 2023. Posters with violent imaginary, the words like-Kill India, photographs of Indian diplomats has created an atmosphere of threat and has hindered even the normal working of consular staff. The arson and violent imaginary prove that danger of violence is real. Canadian authorities have admitted to have increased security patrols at Indian missions in Canada. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) the designated terrorist organization has recently offered $5, 00,000 to track movement of Satish Kumar Verma, IHC which is a clear threat to the top diplomat like a bounty, usually declared in Fatwah of terrorist organizations. These are clear violations not only of Vienna Convention and but also Canadian Law and Constitution. The allegations on Indian officials, of working in such a charged environment, to be engaged in espionage activities is one of the most absurd allegations one can make.

Canada has been living in a fantasy land where they reckon that harboring the extremists and criminal elements will not affect them in any way. Trudeau has casted allegations of use of criminal network by India for killing persons adverse to India’s interest. MEA has come out with a fact based counter and cited 26 extradition request still pending with Canadian government. India has also shared security related information including those of Lawrence Bishnoi gang, requesting for arrest, which has been pending for long. These same set of persons are being blamed by RCMP to be used by India. There are numerous examples in the world, where attempts by nations to harbor the extremist elements to use as foreign policy rules have back fired. Taliban is one of the examples. Even Canada has faced the brunt of extremism in bombing of Air India-182 flight, killing all 329 people on board, including 268 Canadian citizens. The investigations have concluded that the bombing was planned and executed by Sikh extremists. This very investigations and its findings are being challenged by some of PKEs and even elected members of Canadian Legislature. These revisionist tendencies indicate to growing influence of extremist ideology in Canadian social and political sphere.

Many entities have been peddling misinformation through social media and using Canada as a base for their activities. Most of these PKEs are people, engaged in criminal acts in 1990s and 2000s, who found their way to Canada (like Nijjar) where criminal acts were justified as grounds for political asylum. Most of these elements have become a part of organized crime network with activities spanning sale of drugs, kidnapping, money laundering, human trafficking etc. This money is used to influence Sikh diaspora through coercion and allurement.

Some of fringe elements have used explicit and disruptive politics as a tool to further their agenda. The use vulgar language and extreme rhetoric in debates to dominated the conversation with inflammatory tactics. Their discussions are focused on creating unrest and division and are bereft of any real solution. They are more interested in securing foreign funds in the name of advancing communities interest. The cultural events like Baisakhi and major religious events in Gurdwaras, are hijacked to push their agenda. It has led to complete erosion of dignity within Sikh diaspora discussions and keeping the everyday Sikh away from public discourse. The idea of Referendum is peddled to unsuspecting members of Sikh diaspora without any Sikh political and constitutional basis. Canadian government cannot hide behind weak excuse of freedom of expression and passing it off as a political initiative for self-government. There has been clear secessionist tendencies. Their use of public and government space like schools, community centers and Gurdwaras to organize these referendums and other anti-India activities clearly shows implicit support of the ruling dispensation.

Trudeau has been a difficult spot politically with his ratings at all-time low in the nine years of Government of Liberal party. He is heading a minority government supported by Jagmeet Singh led new Democratic Party. Trudeau is finding it hard to maneuver in a shrinking political space for liberal party. Jagmeet Singh has been a supporter of Khalistani separatist movement and continuously push its agenda to be politically relevant among the diaspora. Trudeau is feeling the need to woo the countries politically significant Sikh communities, which has at least some Khalistani sympathizers, ahead of next year’s Federal Elections. India has continuously highlighted that Canadian government, led by Trudeau, was targeting is representatives for vote bank politics aimed at narrow political interests. This mix of Trudeau political compulsion and the narrative by some of extremist elements in diaspora has been the driving force behind these allegations and diplomatic relations nosediving without a shred of evidences to back the allegations.