The stunning announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament accusing the government of Bharat of involvement in the murder of a Canadian Sikh extremist H.S. Nijjar sank the bilateral relations between the two countries to unprecedented depths. Nijjar was chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force with a red corner notice against him – a terrorist involved in assassinations and several other criminal activities.
Bharat has been having problems with Canada with regard to its refuge for the Khalistani terrorists. Detailed information and dossiers have been provided to the Canadian authorities but they have continued to disregard Bharat’s genuine security concerns allowing known Sikh extremists to roam freely in Canada and conduct their terrorist operations in Bharat from there. Bharat’s repeated protests to the Canadian Government on allowing anti- Bharat activities on its soil have gone completely unheeded. In the name of ‘freedom of expression’ Canada has permitted a free run to the extremists to circulate hate videos and issue open threats against Hindu Indo-Canadians asking them to leave the country. There have also been shocking incidents of defacing of Hindu temples and violent attacks against Bharat’s diplomatic establishments. This has been going on for the last several decades and notably no serious action was taken even against the perpetrators of the Air India Kanishka bombing in 1985.
NO CHANCE TO DIPLOMACY
Trudeau has asserted that the Canadian security agencies were pursuing “credible allegations of a potential link between agents of Bharat’s Government and the killing of Canadian citizen Nijjar”. It was preposterous for him to make such a serious allegation against the govt of a friendly country on the basis of a mere ‘allegation’ as distinct from clear evidence and substantial proof and the fact that investigations were still ongoing. One would have expected such matters to be raised quietly between friendly nations with a view to resolving them through negotiations but quite surprisingly Trudeau chose not to give diplomacy any chance.
It is believed that Trudeau’s statement was based on intelligence passed on to Canada by one of the partner countries in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. It is quite routine for the exchange of intelligence amongst friendly countries but for Trudeau to make a knee-jerk statement levelling such accusations against Bharat was quite unprecedented. A day later, he explained that he was not looking to provoke Bharat and that he was simply laying down ‘facts’. But the damage was already done. Some are suggesting that this may have been done to deflect attention from domestic issues on which Trudeau has been receiving increasing flak resulting in his approval ratings having plummeted in the recent times. Some media reports have even speculated that information on the ‘intelligence’ input had already been leaked to the media and that Trudeau’s announcement in parliament was an exercise in damage limitation.
DOUBLE STANDARDS
From Bharat’s point of view, these explanations are quite irrelevant. Trudeau’s insinuations amounted to a serious provocation. Bharat’s reaction was understandably firm and swift. It strongly rejected the accusation and reciprocated by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat based in Delhi apart from suspending visa services for Canadians. Trudeau’s audacious and unfounded assertion indeed merited a strong response from the government of Bharat with a view to sending a clear message to Canada and others that Bharat would not allow anyone to bully it.
Canada and some other countries have for long arrogated to themselves the right to lecture us at the slightest excuse, betraying their historic mindset of white supremacy. Canada was also very vocal and strident in its criticism of Bharat after its nuclear tests in 1998. It is time that they are reminded of their double standards and made to see the evolving geo political realities.
Political convenience cannot dictate responses to terrorism, extremism, and violence, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the United Nations General Assembly in New York
It should be noted that despite such a grave provocation, Bharat’s response has been moderate and measured designed not to completely jeopardise our relations with Canada. In fact, lot of people in Bharat were so enraged at the Canadian accusations and the manner in which it was made that they would have favoured a more robust response such as immediate withdrawal of our High Commissioner and downgrading of diplomatic relations.
TRUDEAU’S VOTE BANK
That Trudeau has allowed himself to be driven by short term vote bank politics is quite obvious. What is surprising is that he failed to take cognisance of the long-term potential of Canada’s bilateral relations with Bharat. There is sizeable bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding US $8 billion per annum, but more importantly Bharat accounts for over 40 per cent of foreign students in Canada, contributing nearly US $10 billion in fees every year. This should have weighed heavily with Trudeau before he indulged in his gaffe, causing precipitous fall in the relations, particularly at a time when Canada is facing the disturbing prospects of economic contraction. There are reports that Bharatiya students planning to go abroad to pursue higher studies are already beginning to have second thoughts about Canada and are actively exploring alternatives.
Trudeau also does not seem to be mindful of the fact that Khalistan is a dead issue. That Bharat would never allow secession of Khalistan – thank God we have the requisite wherewithal to ensure that – should also have been quite evident to Trudeau. In fact, majority of Sikhs in Bharat as also those living abroad do not care about Khalistan and take pride in being Bharatiyas. It is only certain fringe minority elements in the Sikh community who have continued to whip up the Khalistan bogey by capturing religious institutions by threatening the use of force and violent means. These elements receive material support from ISI in Pakistan as well as other quarters inimical to Bharat’s interests.
Why is Trudeau beholden to this tiny minority of Sikh extremists in Canada? Terrorism is one of the biggest problems facing the world and it is imperative that all countries must act in concert to root this out. There cannot be any truck with the terrorists under any pretext. As Bharat’s External Affairs Minister reminded all concerned at the United Nations, “political convenience cannot dictate responses to terrorism, extremism and violence”. Trudeau would also do well to remind himself that Canada is home to a large number of Bharatiya origin people constituting roughly 5 per cent of the country’s population, more than half of whom are non-Sikhs. If they are allowed to be threatened by radical Sikh elements, it would have obvious disastrous consequences for social harmony in the country. That Canada has continued to provide refuge to these elements is a matter of grave concern – not just Khalistanis but also criminals from other nations including Bangladesh. A Baluch activist was assassinated in Canada in 2020 but nobody in Canada seems to have bothered. Is it another Pakistan in making? If it was a non-white nation indulging in such activities it would have been slapped with sanctions. A government spokesman alluded to this prospect pointing out that Canada should be worried about its growing reputation as a safe haven for terrorists and organised crime.
MISCALCULATED MOVE
Trudeau miscalculated the extent of support from Canada’s western allies for its wild charges against Bharat. USA, UK and Australia were notably tepid in their public reaction not going beyond expression of “deep concern” over Canadian allegations against Bharat. It was by no means akin to a full-throated support that Trudeau might have banked on, as noted in a BBC report. A Washington Post report noted that Canada’s allies including USA “refused to be drawn” into some kind of a joint action requested by Canada. In fact, a Canadian journalist even hollered at Trudeau describing him as being alone.
After the incident, US President Joe Biden in New York actually praised Bharat for helping to establish new economic pathway. UK on its part made it clear that its trade talks with Bharat would go on as before. It is quite evident that Bharat, due to its rising global stature, is seen as a credible counterforce to an expansionist and increasingly strident China especially in Indo-Pacific region. West does not seem prepared to disregard that consideration. Indeed, growing partnership between Bharat and USA has obvious strategic significance for both the countries. Just a few days ago, deep embarrassment was caused to Trudeau when Yaroslav Hunka a Ukrainian immigrant, who worked with the Nazis was feted and honoured in the Canadian parliament alongside Ukrainian President Zelensky. So much for the competence of Canadian intelligence whose inputs are cited by Trudeau for lambasting Bharat publicly. Bharat has acquired a certain stature on the global stage. Its rising economic strength coupled with growing soft power have positioned it to play a leading role in the global affairs. The manner in which it discharged its responsibility as G-20 president this year has already been widely appreciated. That it was able to work with every member to steer a consensus at the summit despite deep divisions on several key issues is a testimony to Bharat’s conciliatory approach underpinned by non-violence and the principle of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. But success also creates envy in certain quarters. Bharat therefore must remain vigilant and work to fiercely safeguard its core interests.
