New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged for the first time that Khalistanis are present in his nation as the diplomatic impasse between India and Canada rages on. Trudeau made the surprising admission that there is a Khalistan support base in Canada, but he swiftly clarified that they are not representative of the Sikh community as a whole. He made the statement at a Diwali celebration ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Since the June 2023 murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, ties between India and Canada have been worse. A diplomatic maelstrom that is still raging was sparked by Trudeau’s claim that India might have been complicit in the murder.
While there are Canadians who support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, Trudeau said in his Diwali speech that they do not speak for all Hindu Canadians.
“The Sikh community as a whole is not represented by the numerous Khalistan proponents in Canada. He stated that while there are certain Canadians who favor the Modi regime, they do not speak for all Hindu Canadians.
Increasing Conflicts
At a temple in Brampton, Canada, earlier this week, demonstrators, some brandishing Khalistani flags, engaged in combat with worshippers, hurling punches, swinging poles, and upsetting a consular gathering that had attracted both Canadian and Indian people. Outside the temple grounds, protesters were seen forcefully attacking believers in videos that swiftly went popular on social media. As the tension increased, the video showed frantic fistfight scenes where participants were striking one another with poles.
The violence was denounced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who emphasized that every Canadian has the right to peacefully worship their religion. “Today’s violent incidents at Brampton’s Hindu Sabha Mandir are intolerable. Trudeau posted on X (previously Twitter) that “every Canadian has the right to freely and safely practice their faith.” “Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident.”
The Centre categorically denounced the attack on the Hindu Sabha temple and voiced serious concerns about the safety of Indian citizens in Canada.
In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have witnessed violent disruption today (November 3), orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organized with the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, near Toronto.” Additionally, we continue to have serious concerns about the safety of candidates, particularly Indian nationals, who are the reason these events are held in the first place. Our Consulate was able to grant over 1,000 life certificates to Indian and Canadian applicants in spite of these anti-Indian measures.
Only intelligence, no proof
India has repeatedly denied any connection to the killing of Nijjar, who the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has classified as a terrorist, and charged that Trudeau’s government was caving in to Khalistani supporters for political advantage. India has strongly denied any involvement in Nijjar’s murder, a charge made by the Trudeau administration.
India, citing Canada’s inaction in the face of growing pro-Khalistan sentiment in the nation, has characterized the accusations as politically driven. Six Indian officials were allegedly implicated in the conspiracy, according to Canadian authorities after Nijjar’s death. India swiftly rejected this accusation as “preposterous.” Despite numerous interactions, including gatherings at global gatherings like the G20 Summit, Canada has not produced any concrete proof that connects India to the murder.
In a scathing reaction to Canada’s accusations last month, the Centre denied that Sanjay Kumar Verma, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, was a “person of interest” in Nijjar’s murder. In addition to rejecting the Verma assertions, India noted that Canada has not provided any substantial evidence to support its accusations in spite of repeated requests for proof.
During a public hearing in October, Trudeau made the shocking admission that, in 2023, Canada lacked “hard evidentiary proof” to back up claims that Indian government agents were responsible for Nijjar’s death. Speaking before a public investigation into suspected foreign meddling in Canada’s democratic institutions and federal elections, Trudeau disclosed that his allegations of India’s meddling were supported by intelligence rather than concrete proof.
“I was briefed on the fact that there was intelligence from Canada, and possibly from Five Eyes allies that made it fairly clear, incredibly clear, that India was involved in this… Agents of the government of India were involved in the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil,” he stated.
During the September 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, Trudeau clarified that Canada had the opportunity to make the accusations public but decided against it.
“Our response was, well, it’s within your security agencies,” Mr. Trudeau remarked, referring to Canada’s interactions with India. “At that time, it was mainly intelligence rather than concrete evidence. We therefore agreed to collaborate and investigate your security services.
The Indian government has maintained that separatists and pro-Khalistani fanatics who threaten India’s security find refuge in Canada. Additionally, New Delhi said that Canada had not taken its call for action against these groups seriously.
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