Should Canada's Justin Trudeau be declared persona non-grata in India?

Analysis

By Dr. Abhinav Pandya 

One could never imagine in the not-so-distant mighty Cold War days of the West that its institutions, systems and the lofty ideals of democracy would soon be hijacked, severely compromised, and held to ransom by the Islamic and Sikh extremist and terrorist organizations and all sorts of dubious foreign penetrations. Today countries like Canada seem to be completely taken over by the extremists, terrorists, radicals and the intelligence operations of China and Pakistan.

The ongoing diplomatic spat between India and Canada amply shows the extent to which institutions in the Western world have been compromised. Notably, Canada alleged that Indian agencies were involved in the murder of a Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Following the allegations, came the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat from Canada. In a proportionate retaliation, New Delhi has also expelled a senior diplomat of Canada, ordering him to leave the country within five days.

The irony of the situation is that a country like Canada, known to be a torch bearer of democracy and human rights is aligning with Khalistani extremists and terrorists, with a proven record of murder, extortion, torture, bomb blasts, minority killings, genocide, and massive human rights violations. Canada’s main opposition Jagmeet Singh’s, New Democratic Party, which is keeping Trudeau’s minority government in power, is an open supporter and sympathizer of the Khalistan separatism and extremism, a direct threat to India’s sovereignty, integrity, and internal security. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the man whose murder has sparked the ongoing diplomatic row, is a wanted terrorist listed in the Indian home ministry’s list of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) terrorists. Nijjar’s pictures firing and waving and AK 47 are doing rounds on social media. Unfortunately, Canada has decided to support a terrorist and an extremist ideology. The National Investigation Agency has alleged him of “trying to radicalize Sikh community across the world in favor of creation of ‘Khalistan” and “trying to incite Sikhs to vote for secession, agitate against the Government of India and carry out violent activities”.

Canada has a history of sheltering Khalistani extremists engaging in anti-India India activities. Canada’s non-cooperative and pro-Khalistani sympathies were evident in the investigation of the 1985 Kanishka bombing, in which all 329 people, on board, were murdered. After a long and protracted investigation, two Sikh extremists from British Columbia were acquitted in 2005 of conspiracy and murder in the Kanishaka bombing as well as a second explosion that killed two baggage handlers in Japan. Reportedly, due to the callousness of Canadian investigation agencies, many witnesses were murdered and apparently intimidated and threatened out of testifying. Also, wiretaps by the Canadian intelligence agencies were erased, hence they could not be used as evidence.

Canadian mainstream political groups and state institutions have increasingly provided more space to Khalistan extremists and their activists. In 2017, Trudeau attended a Sikh event in Toronto where separatist flags and posters of a Khalistani terrorist killed in the Operation Blue Star of 1984, were displayed. In June 2023, the Canadian government allowed a float depicting the murder of Indira Gandhi as revenge and glorifying the perpetrators as Sikh heroes. Lately, several Hindu temples have been attacked by the Khalistani extremists in Canada. Also, pro-Khalistani protesters have often breached the security of Indian consulates and missions in Canada.

Canada’s blatant duplicity on terrorism gets further exposed with Ottawa’s silence over the activities of the ISI and Pak-supported Islamic extremists. Notably, in Canada, the ISI is working hands-in-glove with Khalistani extremists and engaging in widespread anti-India activities. On various occasions, funds have been routed to Kashmir-based separatist entities through Canada. The ISI goons killed a Baloch dissident Kareema Baloch, critical of Pakistani atrocities in Balochistan, in a cold-blooded murder; however, Mr. Trudeau neither raised any hue and cry nor expelled any Pakistani diplomat.

Also, while citing the investigation leading to ‘credible allegations,’ neither Joly, Canada’s foreign minister nor Le Blanc, minister for public safety have furnished any details which further strengthen the argument that the allegations have flimsy evidential grounds. In fact, it is quite possible that the whole issue has been raised for political ends, to placate Khalistani elements as right after the incident the Khalistani organisations praised Trudeau.

India, a much stronger nation

Today, India with its 5^th largest economy and 4^th largest military is a much stronger power. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has shown a firm resolve against terrorism. Despite the intellectual and propaganda attacks against Delhi over the last 10 years, Prime Minister Modi’s stance has strengthened and grown stronger in conviction, action, and fervor. Also, India’s global clout has grown by leaps and bounds. The ongoing G20 presidency has enabled India to shape the global narrative on economy, security, and terrorism. Hence, Delhi is not anymore in the 1985 situation when it could not do much against the powerful Western governments be it the case of the Union Carbide Bhopal gas leak or the Kanishka bombings.

However, today it can. It can be observed that the international community has also shown a very mellowed reaction in this matter. Canada being a member of Five Eyes, the global intelligence alliance, raised the issue with Britain, the US, and Australia. All three countries have a sizable Sikh population with pro-Khalistan leanings. However, the three countries have shown a restrained reaction, merely stating that they are ‘concerned about the allegations.’ The West needs India as a counter to China, therefore it is in no position to annoy India, leaving aside alienating and isolating it. It is high time Canada realised that pleasing Khalistanis is doing significant damage to India-Canada ties. Most recently, India has put on hold a trade agreement supposed to be signed between the two countries citing “serious concerns.”

At the recent G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi did not have a bilateral meeting with Trudeau. He only met him on the sidelines and conveyed that India is seriously concerned about the Khalistani activities in Canada. Prior to that in 2018, Trudeau’s India visit was a flop affair, with India giving a diplomatic snub to Canada on several occasions. Canada, a prominent nation in the Western world needs to realise that in the 21^st century, there is no rationale behind aligning with totalitarian and genocidal extremists and terrorist groups. Doing it for petty internal political imperatives severely damages its democratic credentials. Also, if Canada, along with the other Western nations wants to decouple from China, create alternate supply chains, and counter China’s aggressionism and expanding influence operations on its own soil, it needs to keep New Delhi on its side. Ruining ties for a few lumpen terrorists and radicals is a bad diplomatic choice.

To conclude, I would like to raise a critical question. Trudeau blames India for violating its sovereignty by allegedly facilitating Nijjar’s murder, of which no concrete proof has come out yet. However, Canada’s association with Khalistanis elements hell-bent on India’s vivisection and violation of its territorial integrity is out in the open. Hence it can be argued that Canada is a party to anti-India forces seeking to disintegrate India and violate its sovereignty.

That said, shouldn’t we declare Trudeau, the man supporting and sheltering anti-India forces seeking to disintegrate India, a Persona Non-Grata (PNG) in India?

If it is too much to ask for, then New Delhi should at least issue a white paper exposing Canada’s linkages and tacit support to Khalistani extremists.

Disclaimer: This paper is the author's individual scholastic contribution and does not necessarily reflect the organization's viewpoint. The article was originally published by Firstpost.