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PremiumIndia-Canada news LIVE: Tensions between India and Canada have continued to escalate after Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations against India pertaining to the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has reiterated that no Canada has not shared any documents that would prove that the allegations are correct. Besides, the Indian government has also gone further and blasted Canada for supposedly hosting a “nexus of terrorism," serving as a “safe haven" for extremism and organized crime. Meanwhile, Canada's Defence Minister has termed the relationship with India as "important". Blair suggested Canada will continue to pursue those partnerships while the investigation into allegations continues, calling the relationship with India “important."
Here are the latest developments on this BIG story:
Jatinder Singh Grewal, a director for Sikh for Justice in Canada, told Reuters on Sunday that his organization will lead the demonstrations outside the Indian embassies and consulates in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver to increase public awareness about Nijjar's killing.
"We are asking Canada to expel the India ambassador," Grewal said.
The Punjab Police conducted raids at 48 places linked to close associates of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa alias Landa Harike. The development comes after a trader was attacked by two assailants on September 21.
“We received and believe we have very credible intelligence that causes us to be deeply concerned and the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) have now initiated an investigation. One of the things I need to be very careful about is not confirming or identifying either the sources of any information we're acting on or the evidence or the type of evidence that forms part of that investigation, because the outcome of that investigation is critically important to Canada. It's also important to our allies in the world...," Blair said in an interview with CBC News on Sunday.
“I am concerned about the measures that they're taking because we have a very significant (and) important Indo-Canadian population in this country, people who are connected to family and through business and other relationships to India," he told CBC News on Sunday.
He also stressed the need to investigate the killing and move from credible intelligence to evidence.
“So that we and the Indian government can know the truth and have the facts and then we can work together to resolve it in an appropriate way. And the only request we have made of our allies in India is that they cooperate fully in that investigation because its outcome is very important," the minister said.
Delhi traders' body CTI on Monday urged the Central government to ban import of lentil (masur) from Canada. It stressed the need to exert economic pressure in a letter to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and suggested alternatives such as contacting countries like Russia, Singapore, and Turkey for pulses.
India's annual pulse consumption is estimated at around 23 lakh tonnes of which 15-16 lakh tonnes is produced domestically and rest is imported from other countries. In the last financial year, India imported 4.85 lakh tonnes of lentil from Canada, said CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The assertion – vehemently denied by New Delhi – has also triggered speculation about Ottawa's sources. The Trudeau government recently announced that the intelligence was based on inputs from one of the other Five Eye countries – an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK.
“Most probably, given the geographic understandings, it would have been maybe America or England who had collected some intelligence on their own, or Canada asked them to find out some information that would also be so. And they collected some information and passed it back to Canada," foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev told ANI.
Canadian authorities have not stopped issuing visas to Indian nationals looking to enter the north American country. This comes even though MEA has suspended issuing visa to any Canadian citizen, irrespective of their domicile. Read more
Pro-Khalistani banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) is trying to settle its important members and executors abroad in the countries of their wish, with the help of Pro-Khalistan Elements (PKEs) who are well settled in various countries across the world.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge-sheet filed in March this year reveals that the BKI's move has created a symbiotic terrorist-gangster network, between gangster and Pro-Khalistan elements which fulfil their requirement of the shooters to carry out targeted killings.
In return the gangsters get access to sophisticated weapons from across the border.
Popular Indian defence expert Qamar Agha told ANI news agency that 99% of Punjabis residing in India are not Khalistani and neither they support Khalistan-related activities. He hinted at Pakistan's intention in the rise of the Khalistan.
The Indian Community in Canada is concerned over the recent strain in relations between the two countries following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’ allegations. Senior Canadian Journalist Harleem Sadia said that the Indian community has concerns which are very genuine.
She said common people are now finding it difficult to travel to India and Canada. It is difficult for people who lead normal lives, have regular jobs.
The US provided Canada with intelligence after the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, but communications intercepted by Ottawa were more definitive and led it to accuse India of orchestrating the plot, The New York Times reported. The United States has urged India to cooperate with Canada in its investigations.
India is in the process of cancelling the registration of more than a dozen Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders for carrying out pro-Khalistan activities and anti-India propaganda. Read more
A high-ranking Indian security official has said that Canada has not shared any concrete evidence with India until now via diplomatic or intelligence channels that link India to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Read more
A group of people on Sunday staged a protest against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Jantar Mantar here, accusing him of supporting Khalistani separatists.
The protesters led by United Hindu Front chief Jai Bhagwan Goyal also submitted to authorities a memorandum addressed to the prime ministers of Canada and India, the outfit said in a statement.
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Liberal party MP Chandra Arya asserted that Hindu Canadians were fearful after threats issued by extremist elements. The lawmaker held his own party-led government in Canada responsible for inaction against Khalistan extremists.
“I am more worried about the consequence of what happened after the Prime Minister’s (Trudeau) statement. The concerns of the safety of Hindu Canadians here, Hindu Canadians are fearful. What I am worried is that the bloodshed is going to be Hindu Canadian’s blood," he told CBC News.
While US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken has called upon India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, US officials have been cautious about triggering any diplomatic backlash from India. Nevertheless, the revelation of US intelligence involvement risks "ensnaring" Washington in the ongoing diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, just as the US seeks to strengthen its partnership with New Delhi, NYT reported.
Canada urged to implement a ‘foreign policy reset’ and focus on Indo-Pacific diplomacy amid deteriorating relations with India. Japan Times suggested Canada should strengthen partnerships with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore to avoid past mistakes.
Amid worsening bilateral ties with New Delhi in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, it is perhaps time for Canada to implement a ‘foreign policy reset’, shedding off its ‘middle-power approach’ and focussing more on ‘Indo-Pacific diplomacy’, Japan Times reported.
Prime Minister Trudeau's allegation of an Indian role in the assassination of Khalistani leader Nijjar on Canadian soil, triggered a broader deterioration in relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, the report noted.
Notably, a similar episode also led to a deteriorating trend in China-Canada relations, the report stated, adding that Michael Spavor, a businessman, and Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat, were arrested by Beijing on espionage charges. The two were arrested following the detainment of Huawei executive Meng Wangzhou in December 2018 at the request of the United States, Japan Times reported.
The Biden administration will likely try to stay out of the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India as much it can, aiming not to disrupt the progress it’s made in its relationship with Narendra Modi’s government, the founder of political strategy firm Signum Global Advisors says.
Wading into the ongoing diplomatic showdown between India and Canada, David Cohen, the US Ambassador to Canada, said it was “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners" that led the Trudeau administration to make the claim of a potential link between “agents" of the Indian government and the killing of separatist Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK.
The US provided Canada with intelligence after the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, but communications intercepted by Ottawa were more definitive and led it to accuse India of orchestrating the plot, The New York Times has reported citing sources.
The report came on Saturday as the top US diplomat in Canada confirmed that there was “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners" that had prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s offensive allegation against India in the killing of a Khalistani extremist on Canadian soil.
The tensions between the two countries India-Canada escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. The allegations made by the Canadian Prime Minister and foreign minister were rejected by the Ministry of External Affairs in India which dubbed the statements as absurd. Read more here
The death of a Khalistani separatist leader has sparked an international crisis between India and Canada this week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed on Monday that there were ‘credible reasons to believe that agents of the government of India were involved’ in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The assertion, US envoy David Cohen confirmed today, came after “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners". Read more here
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday urged External Affairs minister S Jaishankar for setting up a helpline for Indian students and NRIs in Canada amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.
In his letter to the Union Minister, Jakhar while highlighting the concerns of citizens residing in Canada, urged him to release a detailed statement listing out the measures being taken by the Centre for the safety of the country's citizens in Canada until the eventual resolution of this issue.
"This, I am sure, would go a long way in assuaging the sense of deep anxiety, panic and indecision prevailing amongst our people living in Canada and especially in students waiting to go abroad for studies. An assurance from your office would certainly lay to rest the doubts and insecurity of our students who are rightfully concerned about their study plans," Jakhar wrote in the letter. He suggested issuing a WhatsApp contact number for Indian students planning to go abroad to get in touch with authorities in case they need any information or guidance.
India and Canada are embroiled in a battle of allegations that has sired a firestorm of diplomatic row between the two countries, over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June at a Sikh holy shrine in British Columbia's Surrey, in June this year. Read more here
As per the Intercept report, the FBI agents have visited Sikh activists in the US warning them their lives may be at risk, which comes amid Canada’s claim it has credible intelligence pointing to Indian government involvement in the assassination of a Sikh leader. Read more here
The growing tensions between India and Canada have raised concerns among Indian parents whose children are studying in Canada with many stating that not only they are worried but their children are also unable to put focus on their studies in Canada.
Speaking to ANI, Balwinder Singh whose daughter studies in Canada said, "We are worried, my daughter went to Canada to study, and it's been 7 months since she has left. There is news in the media that there is tension going on between both countries (India and Canada). My child is also worried there, she can't focus on her studies."
“No specific information has been shared by Canada on this case, either then or before or after. We have, you know, as we have said, or I think we have made very clear, we are willing to look at any specific information," PTI quoted the MEA as saying.
"Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday with India. We did that many weeks ago...We hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter. That's important," he said on Friday in a press conference with the visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I think it is very sad, I don't know the details of it so I can't make any comment but...we are very proud of India because they don't do immature things, we have a very solid relationship with India and these are based on values and principles. This is a sad episode and I hope this will end up amicably" said Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Participating in a panel discussion at the Hudson Institute think-tank, Michael Rubin, Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute, claimed Trudeau is playing into the hands of people who are looking at the Khalistani movement as a movement of ego and profit.
"It would be a mistake to suddenly see a separatist movement and argue that this is legitimate. And I worry less so with the United States but more so with what we see in Canada right now with Justin Trudeau, that same knee-jerk reaction playing into the hands of people who are looking at the Khalistani movement as a movement for ego, a movement for profit and for politics," he said.
“We’ve been consulting throughout, very closely, with our Canadian colleagues — not just consulting, coordinating. We are extremely vigilant about any instances of alleged transnational repression — it’s something we take very, very seriously," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a briefing in New York.
According to the Khalsa Vox, 226,450 visas were approved by Canada under the Refugees and Citizenship Canada last year. A significant portion of this group – approximately 1.36 lakh students – hailed from Punjab. These students are now pursuing various courses with an average duration of two to three years.
"On average, each student pays approximately 17,000 Canadian dollars in annual fees, in addition to depositing 10,200 Canadian dollars as Guaranteed Investment Certificate funds."
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had recently jumped into the raging row and issued a video telling Canadian Hindus to "go back to India", claiming they had adopted a "jingoistic approach" by siding with New Delhi.
In an interview with an Indian news channel, Pannun said Nijjar had been his "close associate" for over 20 years and was like a "younger brother" to him. He also blamed India for Nijjar's killing.
“I have no idea why the Canadian government did what they did. I reject the allegations that have been made. Let the truth come out in a public environment. So I would say Canada, please take a step back. Reflect carefully. There was no need for us to go public focus. This could easily have been solved at the diplomatic level by continuously engaging engagement between the two governments, but the bomb has exploded. We have to pick up the pieces and move on," Vikas Swarup told the Global Business Forum at the Fairmont Banff Springs Conference Centre.
He also reminded the Canadian government that “everyone is innocent until proven guilty" and to allow “the rule of law to take its course."
Swarup, who served as India’s high commissioner to Canada from 2017 to 2019, also repeated the Indian government’s accusations that Ottawa has been too accommodating with violent Sikh separatists – something he said Canada will regret.
"Everything is politically exploited. Sikhs are an integral part of this country. Since RSS came into power, the only agenda it has is that they will talk about 'gharwapsi' whether it be in Muslims, Sikhs or anybody. We are not going to tolerate it," All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina told reporters here.
"The India-Canada situation is a political gimmick as elections are coming up. It is to garner votes during elections and nothing else. The community is progressive, it is working hard for the country and it will continue working like that," he said.
The National Investigation Agency has confiscated properties owned by designated Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Chandigarh and Amritsar under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. A property confiscation notice was seen pasted outside Pannun's residence at Sector 15 in Chandigarh.
The allegation of India's involvement in the killing of a Sikh Canadian is based on human and surveillance intelligence, including signals intelligence of Indian diplomats in Canada, an official said.
The communications involved Indian officials and Indian diplomats in Canada and some of the intelligence was provided by a member of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance — US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The Canadian government has amassed both human and signals intelligence in a months-long investigation of a Sikh activist's death that has inflamed relations with India, according to CBC News.
That intelligence includes communications involving Indian officials themselves, including Indian diplomats present in Canada, say Canadian government sources.
The intelligence did not come solely from Canada. Some was provided by an unnamed ally in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
A property confiscation notice has been pasted outside a house belonging to Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Jalandhar after the orders of the NIA Mohali court.
According to a dossier by Indian Intelligence, was not a religious and social figure but a terrorist who was involved in running terrorist training camps and funding terror acts.
Nijjar was a close associate of Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa Heranwala, who was involved in the killing of around 200 people in Punjab during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Heranwala belonged to the banned Khalistan Commando Force.
Nijjar, a plumber by profession had escaped to Canada in 1996 fearing arrest by police in India. He indulged in illegal activities like drug smuggling and extortion in Canada to arrange funding for terrorist activities.
Nijjar was also involved in training youths at a terror camp in British Columbia to carry out attacks in India.
Over the years, Nijjar assumed the role of 'Operation Chief' of Khalistan Tiger Force, or KTF, a banned terror group.
In 2020, he was accused by the government of being actively involved in "operationalising, networking, training, and financing" KTF members.
In 2012, Nijjar visited Pakistan and came in touch with Jagtar Singh Tara, chief of Babbar Khalsa International, another banned terror group.
Tara supplied him with arms and trained him in assembling IEDs in 2012 and 2013. He sent US-based Harjot Singh Birring to Canada to train Nijjar in operating a hand-held GPS device.
In 2014, Nijjar planned a terror attack on Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa in Haryana in direction of Tara. However, the attack could not take place because Nijjar was denied an Indian visa.
Nijjar was also the head of the Canada chapter of Sikhs For Justice, another banned terrorist organisation.
He had also organised violent anti-India protests in Canada and threatened Indian diplomats.
Six years ago India spoke to Canada about the myriad allegations against Hardeep Singh Nijjar but the then government decided to put him on the no-fly list and take no other option. Indian Intelligence dossier showed that Nijjar has acted to protect himself by venturing into gurudwara politics in Canada and acquiring Canadian citizenship.
A plumber by profession, Nijaar got Canadian citizenship in 2001. At that time, he joined the Babbar Khalsa International using close links with Jagtar Singh Tara, former chief of Khalistan Tiger Force. Their proximity was uncovered in 2014 when Nijjar met Tara in Thailand, who was involved in the assassination of former Punjab CM Beant Singh. Nijjar travelled to Pakistan to coordinate his escape from Thailand with ISI's help.
Canada's top federal public safety officials and politicians have denounced the "online hate video" agaisnt Hindus and asserted that Hindus are “safe and welcome."
The video surfaced days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations on September 18 of the “potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Premier of British Columbia province, David Ebby has said that Justin Trudeau government is “holding back" information on the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, CBC News reported. Eby said that Canada’s Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc had reached out, “but there has not been good information sharing".
According to a report by the Wilson Institute, 'Trade' will be the first major casualty of the fallout. Both countries have declared that they would pause trade talks with each other earlier this month and Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng has indefinitely postponed a trade mission to New Delhi that had been planned for October.
The allegations can damage India's public image as a democratic nation committed to a rules-based order or, more critically, its perception as a trustworthy ally in the competition against China, the report added.
Intensifying tensions between India and Canada are prompting travellers and students to reconsider their plans until the situation becomes clearer.
Visa applicants are postponing appointments due to concerns over potential visa rejections.
Canadian officials shared evidence with India’s government, including communications and phone numbers that they believe link Indian agents with the murder of a Sikh activist before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau went public with the allegation.
The information was exchanged via security officials of the two countries, an official said.
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a huge mistake by alleging that India had links with the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and said that the premier has not been able to back his allegations.
“Prime Minister Trudeau I think has made a huge mistake. He has made allegations in a manner which he hasn't been able to back. Either he was shooting from the hip and he doesn't have the evidence to support the accusations he made against the government. There is something there, in which case he needs to explain why this government was sheltering a terrorist," Rubin said.
