Tensions have risen with increased fervor between India and Canada due to several recent events, the most brazen of which was the Canadian Prime Minister’s admission of the presence of Khalistani supporters in Canada.

In a statement regarding the Hindu festival Diwali celebrated by the country’s parliamentarians, he said that while there are some supporters of Khalistan in Canada, they are not Sikhs as such.

The comments, once generally confidential, now come at a time when Indo-Canadian relations are already strained due to the death of Singh, a Khalistani activist.

A volatile diplomatic landscape

Relations between India and Canada have become increasingly tense since the June 2023 assassination of Nijjar, a key figure in the Khalistan movement, in Surrey, British Columbia. After his death, the Trudeau government publicly suggested that Indian state actors may have been involved in the killing, a claim that sparked an international diplomatic dispute.

The accusation remains one of the main points of contention, with India consistently rejecting any involvement in the killing and condemning Trudeau’s comments as politically motivated.

In his Diwali speech, Trudeau sought to clarify his position, stating that while supporters of Khalistan and the Indian government exist in Canada, neither group represents the entirety of their respective communities. “There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. Likewise, there are supporters of Prime Minister Modi in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians,” Trudeau said.

Violent clashes in Brampton

Some protests were supported by people waving Khalistan flags at the Hindu Sabha Mandir. Earlier this week, violence broke out at a temple in Brampton, Ontario. According to videos uploaded on social media, the clashes took place between groups of protesters and devotees at the Hindu Sabha Mandir.

Such altercations included physical clashes between protesters and stick-wielding worshipers and an escalation in the level of violence that took place over the issue of Khalistan supporters in Canada.

Trudeau made further comments and condemned the violence, arguing that Canadians, as a diverse society, have the right to practice their beliefs without fear of oppression. “The violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton needs no justification. All Canadians should be able to freely and safely exercise their religious beliefs,” he said on X (formerly Twitter) and thanked community police for acting quickly.

India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MEA, also expressed concerns, describing it as a coordinated operation carried out by anti-Indian forces. MEA deplored the interference witnessed during a consular function held at the temple and expressed serious fears for the safety of Indians living in Canada. “We are very concerned about the safety of people applying for things, including Indian citizens, on such occasions,” said Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson.

The debate between intelligence and evidence

The heart of the conflict centers around the Trudeau regime’s claim that accusations by Canadian intelligence “agencies” were behind the work of assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar on India’s side. Although India has consistently rejected these unsubstantiated claims and allegations, Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged during a public inquiry in October that Canada had no reasonable evidence to support these allegations. He clarified that the allegations made by Canada were not based on “concrete evidence”, but rather “on intelligence, particularly from other Five Eyes countries”.

The situation has become even more complicated since then, as Trudeau’s influence grew and he began declaring: “India has consistently provided documentary evidence linking our government agents to the assassination”, which is what India keeps asking for. “So far, no evidence has been provided by Canada for all our exchanges and requests,” said an Indian government official.

Earlier this year, Nijjar’s murder was also allegedly carried out by Canadian police, who claimed that six Indian diplomats were involved in the assassination. However, India rejected the accusation, calling it idiotic. India continues to claim that Canada facilitates the presence of Khalistani violent extremists in Canada, which it considers a threat to its national security.

The broader impact on Indo-Canadian relations

The diplomatic fallout from Nijjar’s death has strained relations between India and Canada, affecting various aspects of bilateral relations. India has raised concerns about the growing influence of pro-Khalistani groups in Canada and the perceived lack of action from the Canadian government to curb their activities. At the same time, Canada has expressed frustration over what it sees as India’s disregard for Canadian sovereignty in the Nijjar killing.

The two countries have engaged in high-level discussions on the issue, including at the G20 summit in September, but these efforts have so far failed to resolve the crisis. Trudeau’s recent admission of the lack of concrete evidence linking India to the assassination has only added another layer of complexity to an already fragile diplomatic situation.

As tensions continue to rise, both governments will need to address sensitive issues of minority rights, national security and international diplomacy, while trying to manage the growing divide between their respective communities.

Looking to the future

The situation remains fluid and the international community is closely monitoring how Canada and India deal with the consequences. Trudeau’s recognition of the Khalistani presence in Canada, while attempting to differentiate between extremists and the broader Sikh population, could shape future Canadian foreign policy discourse on issues of national security and international relations.

For now, the diplomatic standoff continues, with little indication of a quick resolution to the issues that define the current chapter in Canada-India relations.