𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮

 

By Rahul Dixit 

The simmering tensions between Canada and India over the former’s tacit support to pro-Khalistani elements have snowballed into a major diplomatic upheaval. Both countries have expelled each other’s envoys after the sensational claim made by Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau that India had links with the assassination of pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Mr. Trudeau’s statement in the Parliament termed Nijjar as a Canadian Khalistani making his intentions all the more clear and confirming the concerns India had been raising for quite some time. The strain in the bilateral ties is now primed to evolve into a bigger stand-off where New Delhi must use all its diplomatic resources to expose the sinister designs of Mr. Trudeau and his pro-Khalistani caucus.

Canada had been testing the Indian patience for too long. It had crossed the line by allowing a float in Brampton parade celebrating the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister late Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It was a dirty act of glorification of violence and promotion of hate. If the act was a new low by the Khalistani supporters, then the referendum in schools by the Sikh for Justice (SFJ) organisation for a separate Khalistan state when Mr. Trudeau was in India was the last straw. Now, the gloves are clearly off. It is time New Delhi traded punches with its full might.

Canada has remained a prominent breeding ground for pro-Khalistani terrorism with brazen support of the Trudeau government. The local politics with the presence of majority of Sikhs in various key provinces of the country has played a major role in Mr. Trudeau choosing the dangerous path to tread without thinking of the ramifications of locking horns with India. The appeasement politics by Mr. Trudeau while risking national interests in a rapidly changing global order is sure to haunt Canada in the long term.

The blind-folded hard stance by the Canadian Prime Minister has made him endure major embarrassments during his visit to India and the latest cold shoulder by world leaders during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi. Yet, he has chosen to play to the local gallery by accusing New Delhi of links with the murder of Nijjar, a notorious figure in the pro-Khalistan movement. The wild allegation will definitely have consequences for Canada. This time New Delhi must summon all its dexterous, direct and back-channel, diplomatic strategies for shaping a solid and powerful response that Ottawa should remember for years to come.