As the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau cancelled his dinner invite to the NRI convicted Khalistani terrorist Jaspal Atwal, the message seemed to have been driven home adequately. After four days of getting cold-shouldered during his week-long visit to India for his apparent support to the Khalistani elements back home, Trudeau sought to break the thaw in Amritsar where he proclaimed “Canada does not support any separatist movement” and thus brought a whiff of fresh air to his trip
TS Chandrashekar
India is ‘multi-ethnic’, ‘multi-religious’ and ‘multi-language’ country with numerous ideas, Ideologies living in unity in diversity. Democracy and liberal Globalisation is the way. With nearly seven per cent growth rate, India is leading the world.
However, there are many actors, associations, groups, nations, organisations which have been trying to defame and break India. In that regard, Canada is also one country where anti-India forces are present.
Canada is home to over 1.2 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) who comprise more than 3 per cent of its population. The highly-educated, affluent and industrious PIOs, one of the largest immigrant groups in Canada are well integrated with the mainstream and also active politically. The diaspora is well represented in federal Parliament and provincial legislatures. In the present House of Commons (elections held in October 2015), there are 21 MPs of Indian origin (up from 9). Four PIOs now hold Cabinet berths (up from two of Ministers of State in the last Cabinet)
The two-way trade has increased from C$ 4.2 billion (US$ 3.21 bn approx.) in 2010 to C$8.02 billion (US $6.05 bn approx.) in 2016, but does not reflect the true potential. India accounts for only 1.95 per cent of Canada’s global trade.
The activities happening in Canada are worrisome to India as the Ontario Provincial Parliament adopted a resolution moved by the Harinder Malhi, terming the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as ‘genocide’. Subsequently, Trudeau himself showed up at the Toronto Nagar kirtan where Khalistani flags and pictures of slain Sikh terrorists were displayed.
Some Gurdwaras display pictures of terrorists, presented as ‘martyrs’. Processions and events are regularly organised where fiery speeches are delivered, objectionable tableaux displayed and even kids made to brandish unsheathed swords. Clearly, an attempt is afoot to radicalise the Sikh (Canadian) youth, while the state looks the other way. Gurdwara funds are being misused with some finding their way into wrong hands in India.
Also, a new brand of Sikh militancy has surfaced in Punjab with educated, suave, clean shaven and mostly millennial young men and women from families radicalised through social media by the Khalistani groups active abroad, especially in Canada. These young Sikhs are recruited to kill specific targets set by their handlers.
India Intelligence agencies have always raised concern with their Canadian counterparts about the anti-India activities of some pro-Khalistan extremist groups and individuals operating in Canada at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI. They had even openly threatened Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh even had given a clear message to Canada and the Sikh community that the Canadian soil should not be allowed to be used for promoting extremism against India and hoped the government in Canada was “alive to what is happening”.
The view and warning in Canada are also clear to its Prime Minister that “India is not just a beacon of democracy in a sea of tyrants that govern much of Asia and Africa, but its economy is booming, as is the trade between two countries. Fears expressed by New Delhi can no longer be ignored. If they are, it will be our loss in Canada.”
The shocking news was few Indian diplomats were barred from entering any Sikh temple anywhere in Canada. In his bilateral meeting with Trudeau on the sidelines of the recent World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Trudeau to curb the rise of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada.
One can say that Indo- Canada relations are not so impressing but the visit of young vibrant Prime Minister can change the tone. After Canada imposed sanctions on India in the wake of the nuclear tests, check of anti- India forces in Canada by taming Khalistanis, improving the bilateral trade to two times of now, investment in water, air, infra, real estate, cyber security, biopharma can build a strong relationship between two. Who cannot forget the Indian Students studying in Canada as a destination? Who will be the symbol of our friendships? As Canada is also a country of multi-religions, multi-ethnics, multi-languages, India is too. So we sail in the same boat.
(The writer is Deputy Director, Korea Trade Office, Bengaluru. He is also an expert on International Affairs and Korea)
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