India and Canada, Rift Widens

The political and diplomatic relations between India and Canada, that once were flourishing by trade, cultural and educational exchanges, and shared democratic values, Canada was seen by many Indians as a golden duck, a green pasture, for their livelihood, jobs, education, tourism, and trade have soured and spirally went down in last one year.

It began with the allegations of interference in each other’s country, has led to a tit-for-tat charges against each other, ascending to mistrust, expulsion of diplomats, and a deep crack, nay a gap turning into a cavity as far as the present relations between the two countries are concerned.

Canada even went public and recently sharpened the charges against India. At the same time, India alleged that the Trudeau government is stoking and supporting extremist factions who are wanted in India for terrorism just for petty political gains. At the same time, Canada insists that Indian agents encouraged by the Indian high commission in Canada have engaged in criminal activities on Canadian soil.

The latest episode in this dispute unfolded with the expulsion of diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma. In response, India recalled its senior diplomats and expelled six Canadian diplomats, effectively downgrading its diplomatic presence. The slurs cast on High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma have been met with disdain in India, with the government asserting that these accusations are ridiculous; Sanjay Kumar Verma being a diplomat of calibre, whose career spans 36 years.

This standoff marks a dangerous turn in an old friendly relationship that now stands on the brink of collapse.

The Indian Perspective

For India, the Trudeau government’s actions are seen as politically motivated, an extension of what New Delhi believes is Canada’s appeasement of separatist elements, particularly those aligned with the Khalistan movement. This separatist movement has been a point of contention between the two countries for years.

In New Delhi’s view, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations of Indian agent involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani activist in British Columbia are not only baseless but part of a strategy to cater to domestic political constituencies. India has labelled Nijjar a terrorist and has expressed frustration over Canada’s refusal to extradite individuals it claims are responsible for terrorism and organised crime and take refuge in Canada.

“We find it really strange that people we asked to be deported are now committing crimes in Canada, for which India is being blamed,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal remarked. He highlighted the long-standing issue, noting that “26 extradition requests have been pending for a decade or more, along with several probational requests.”

The Ministry of External Affairs last week issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the Canadian allegations, calling them “preposterous imputations” and asserting that the Trudeau government is pursuing a “vote bank” agenda. “Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India. His naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard. That his government was dependent on a political party, whose leader openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-à-vis India, only aggravated matters. Under criticism for turning a blind eye to foreign interference in Canadian politics, his government has deliberately brought in India in an attempt to mitigate the damage.”

The MEA statement further read, “This latest development targeting Indian diplomats is now the next step in that direction. It is no coincidence that it takes place as Prime Minister Trudeau is to depose before a Commission on foreign interference (where finally he was not able to give any hard evidence) on his stand. It also serves the anti-India separatist agenda that the Trudeau Government has constantly pandered to for narrow political gains,” referring to the fallout from Trudeau’s 2018 visit to India, which was marred by controversy over the inclusion of Sikh separatist sympathisers in his delegation.

India’s decision to withdraw its high commissioner and other targeted diplomats is seen as the Canadian government’s failure to ensure the safety of Indian diplomatic staff. “We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security,” declared MEA spokesperson, signalling a deepening rift and mistrust.

The Canadian View

On the other side of the dispute, the Canadian government is framing its actions as a necessary response to the serious threats posed by Indian agents operating on its soil. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has alleged that Indian government agents are linked to homicides, extortion, and other violent acts within Canada, particularly targeting members of the pro-Khalistan movement.

“An extraordinary situation is compelling us to speak about what we have discovered in our multiple ongoing investigations into the involvement of agents of the Government of India in serious criminal activity in Canada. It is not our normal process to publicly disclose information about ongoing investigations, in an effort to preserve their integrity. However, we feel it is necessary to do so at this time due to the significant threat to public safety in our country,” A statement from the RCMP said.

“Over the past few years, we have uncovered a significant amount of information about the breadth and depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Government of India,” said Commissioner Mike Duheme of the RCMP. According to Canadian authorities, the threats have been so severe that over a dozen “credible and imminent threats to life” have been identified, instigating law enforcement to issue warnings to the South Asian community.

Canada in addition alleges that Indian diplomats and consular officials have used their official positions to conduct clandestine activities aimed at intimidating and coercing the South Asian community.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly justified the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, stating that they had refused to waive their diplomatic immunity in connection to the ongoing investigations. “The decision to expel these individuals was made with great consideration and only after the RCMP gathered ample, clear, and concrete evidence,” she said in a statement. Conservative leader and perhaps future Canadian leader Pierre Poilievre expressed alarm at the growing evidence of foreign interference.

US and other five eye view 

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, has sought support from the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. These countries have responded carefully, balancing diplomatic relations with India while endorsing calls for accountability.

However, the U.S. has taken a stronger stance. On Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against Vikash Yadav, a former Indian government employee with intelligence expertise, in connection with the allegation. Yadav faces murder-for-hire charges related to a conspiracy first revealed last year, which prosecutors say was intended to trigger a series of politically motivated assassinations in the United States and Canada.

Yadav is still at large, but by publicly naming him, the US government appears to be pointing a finger at the Indian government, which has further become a source of friction between India and the West. “The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence or other efforts to retaliate against those residing in the U.S. for exercising their constitutionally protected rights,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.

However, India swiftly denied any ongoing connection to Yadav after the indictment was made public. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), emphasised during a press briefing that Yadav was no longer employed by the Indian government. “The individual named in the U.S. indictment is no longer employed by the Government of India,” Jaiswal stated. While reports have surfaced that Yadav has been arrested in India, officials maintain that his arrest is unrelated to the U.S. indictment or the current diplomatic strain with Canada.The investigation is ongoing, and U.S. authorities continue their search for Yadav, with the FBI issuing a notice for his capture.

The way forward 

As the diplomatic dispute intensifies, both countries face the task of managing the fallout, while addressing the root causes of their grievances. Mending the diplomatic fracture or restoring relations will not be easy, given the deeply ingrained political, security, and emotional dimensions. However, there are steps both sides can take to de-escalate tensions.

Diplomatic engagement need not be stopped: Dialogue remains the most effective tool for resolving bilateral tensions even when angriness or negative energy exists. Dialogue and Diplomacy are the tools that India has been advising for any confrontation or conflict between the parties. Both Canada and India should engage in high-level diplomatic discussions to establish a framework for cooperation on sensitive issues, including the threat of extremism. Restoring trust will require a mutual commitment to transparency and cooperation in law enforcement.

Safeguarding diplomats: Ensuring the safety and security of diplomats is a fundamental tenet of international relations. Both nations should reaffirm their commitments to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, ensuring that diplomats can operate without fear of harassment or violence. Both countries need to ensure complete security for the High commission and the residents, however, differences may be there.

Balancing domestic politics with international diplomacy: Both Trudeau’s government and Modi’s administration are navigating complex domestic political landscapes, where minority groups and diaspora communities play political and emotional roles. Leaders on both sides must resist the temptation to politicise the issue for short-term electoral gains, focusing instead on long-term stability in bilateral ties.

Investigation cooperation: India and Canada both must work internally through their own systems on the allegations having their own internal commissions and bringing forth the truth. These allegations need credible investigation and evidence before charging each other for criminal activities. Joint investigations between Indian and Canadian authorities could be one way to address these issues while maintaining public trust in both countries as the stakes of people-to-people link are too high.

Lastly, with the expulsions of diplomats and the potential for more retaliatory measures, both countries should be cautious of not communicating and should not let this dispute spiral further and go public. There is a pressing need for cooler heads to prevail, as prolonged tensions could damage not only political relations but also economic and people-to-people ties. Restoring normalcy will take time, but with concerted efforts from both sides, it is possible to rebuild the trust that has been misplaced or I should say still not lost.

Surinder Singh Oberoi,

National Editor Greater Kashmir