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Asian Angle | Canada-India row over murdered Sikh separatist complicates West’s bid to counter China
- Ottawa was keen to improve trade relations with New Delhi, but talks stopped following allegations over Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death
- India’s human rights stance and alleged interference in Canada create barriers to improved relationship with West, while Beijing’s influence grows
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Sikh independence advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia will undoubtedly erode bilateral relations at a time when the West is trying to appeal to India.
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Trudeau alleged in parliament that New Delhi had a hand in the death of Nijjar, who was gunned down in June in the car park of a gurdwara – a Sikh place of worship – in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey.
Both government and opposition parties have unanimously condemned India, saying the allegations suggest an unacceptable violation of Canadian sovereignty.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly expelled Indian envoy Pavan Kumar Rai. The federal government said Rai led the Canadian branch of the Research and Analysis Wing, India’s foreign intelligence service. Joly said she would raise the issue with G7 foreign ministers in New York.
India denied the allegations and expelled a Canadian diplomat in retaliation.
Tensions between Canada and India were apparent when Trudeau visited Delhi for the G20 summit earlier this month.
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