In a bizarre remark, the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government has said that Union Home Minister of India, Amit Shah was behind the plots to target the Sikh separatists living in Canada.
It was The Washington Post that first reported that the Canadian officials had alleged that Shah was behind the campaign to incite violence and indulge in intimidation against the Sikh separatists living on Canadian soil.
The Deputy foreign affairs minister of Canada, David Morrison told a parliamentary panel on Tuesday, October 29 that he had told the US newspaper that Shah was behind the plots.
Reuters ague quoting an Indian official said that Canada had told India about the alleged role of Shah in the plots in October 2023.
India has always maintained that the statements are flimsy and there is no evidence to support this allegation.
What a joke, said former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal on X. The Canadian deputy foreign minister Morrison admits that they leaked information about the meeting with the Indian NSA in Singapore to a UK journalist and The Washington Post to rally their US and UK allies behind them, Sibal said. Does this mean at government level the Canadian NSA and its foreign office could not rally sufficient support from their NATO and Five Eyes allies and had to use the media to do propaganda to garner support? What an admission of failure to make out their case. Morrison admits he confirmed to the WP journalist that Home Minister Amit Shah was involved in the gathering of Intelligence about Sikhs in Canada, Sibal also added.
Sibal went on to add that Canada under Trudeau seems bent on causing further long-term damage to India-Canada ties by making such thoroughly irresponsible statements at a parliamentary hearing. The Canadian NSA and Morrison are out of their depth in handling foreign relations. That Canada has such dilettantes at the top of their system shows how frivolous this Canadian government is, he also said.
The latest allegations by Canada comes amidst a dip on diplomatic ties between the two countries, which also saw a high commissioner there named as a person of interest in the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has maintained that the Sikh separatists operating on Canadian soil pose a grave threat to India. They have been demanding a separate home land called Khalistan in India. While in India their movement is near to dead, they seem to gaining a lot momentum abroad, thanks to the likes of Justin Trudeau who is only indulging in petty politics.
Deepawali celebration cancelled
Meanwhile, the office of the Leader of Opposition in Canada has cancelled the annual Diwali event for the Indo-Canadian community at Parliament Hill amidst the ongoing diplomatic stand-off with India. There was no explanation given to the Overseas Friends of India Canada, the organisers of the event regarding the cancellation of the event.
The organisers flagged the issue in an open letter and alleged racial bias by the Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre.
“However, the sudden withdrawal of political leaders from this event, prompted by the current diplomatic situation between Canada and India, has left us feeling betrayed and unjustly singled out,” Shiv Bhaskar the President of the Overseas Friends of India Canada said.
“By canceling their participation, our political leaders have failed to draw a necessary distinction between the Canadian Indian community and the actions of the Indian government. In doing so, they have unwittingly reinforced the very stereotypes and racial biases they claim to stand against,” Bhaskar also said.
“This is not just about a canceled Deepawali event or an event where the politicians decide to reengage on their commitment to attend; it is about a much deeper, more insidious problem. Racism and discrimination are thriving in Canada, and this latest development has laid bare the systemic biases that still exist,” he further added.
