The Inside Story of the Canada India Conflict

The diplomatic rift between Canada and India has drawn global attention, marking a significant low point in their bilateral relations. If we look at this whole situation from a deeper perspective, it seems that all of this is being orchestrated by the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau with the upcoming elections in Canada in mind. The intention appears to be securing the Sikh separatist vote, which holds significant numbers in Canada.

Roots of the Conflict: How It All Started

Justin Trudeau has made several questionable decisions since becoming Canada’s prime minister. Before he took office in 2015, India-Canada relations were at their peak, with strong trade ties and positive diplomatic relations.

Timeline of India-Canada Tensions: Deterioration in Diplomatic Relations

February 2018: Justin Trudeau’s Controversial Dinner in India
When Justin Trudeau visited India in 2018, a dinner was organized in his honor. However, Trudeau invited Jaspal Singh Atwal to the event. Atwal was a convicted criminal involved in the assassination of a Punjab minister. India expressed deep displeasure over this, forcing Trudeau to issue public clarifications. He told the media that he was unaware of Atwal’s background and cancelled the invitation as soon as he found out.

Now, how could any prime minister behave so irresponsibly while visiting another country?

2020: Farmers Protest in India
Trudeau openly supported the farmers’ protest in India against the new agricultural laws. According to Indian intelligence reports, significant funding also came from Canada to sustain the protests. The Indian government saw this as unwarranted interference in its internal affairs and responded strongly, criticizing Trudeau’s remarks.

Who is Hardeep Singh Nijjar?

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was born on October 11, 1977, in District Jalandhar, India. Nijjar moved to Canada in 1997 at the age of 20 and began working as a plumber. Nijjar’s criminal history began in 1995 when he was arrested in India. In 1997, he obtained a fake passport under the name Ravi Sharma and fled, but Canadian authorities apprehended him at Toronto Airport.

Nijjar sought political asylum, alleging cruelty and torture by the Indian police, but his application was rejected. Later, he married a British Columbian woman and applied for immigration sponsorship, but this application was denied on the grounds that the marriage was deemed a sham. Nevertheless, Canada eventually granted him citizenship.

He settled in British Columbia and became actively involved in the Khalistan movement, which demands the separation of Punjab from India to form an independent Sikh state. However, the movement holds no legal or political recognition in India. India designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. Due to his alleged involvement in criminal activities, Nijjar was on India’s most-wanted list. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) even announced a cash reward of 10 lakh rupees for his capture, linking him to the murder of a Hindu priest in Jalandhar, Punjab. In 2018, Punjab’s then-Chief Minister Amarinder Singh handed a list of most-wanted terrorists to Justin Trudeau, with Nijjar’s name prominently included.

Nijjar, however, denied these allegations, claiming to advocate peacefully for Sikh rights. He held significant influence within a section of the Sikh community in Canada. His assassination in June 2023 outside a gurdwara in British Columbia sparked a diplomatic crisis between Canada and India, with Canada accusing India of being involved in his killing.

Why Canada India Conflict can be a Political move by Justin Trudeau

Justin Trudeau’s recent actions against India come at a time when his popularity in Canada is decreasing, and opposition to his leadership is growing. With federal elections scheduled for next year, many believe he is trying to win the support of the influential Sikh community.