Justin Trudeau on India-Canada Relations
Justin Trudeau, as Prime Minister of Canada, oversaw a relationship with India that experienced significant volatility, moving from hopeful engagement to severe diplomatic crisis.
Early in his tenure, the focus included building ties and promoting trade, though underlying tensions related to Sikh separatism were present, exemplified by an invitation controversy in 2018. The defining moment of Trudeau's policy toward India came in 2023 when he publicly stated that Canadian intelligence had credible intelligence pointing to the involvement of the Government of India in the extrajudicial killing of a Canadian citizen.
This allegation triggered the Canada–India diplomatic row, resulting in the expulsion of diplomats and a freeze on negotiations. Trudeau's stance has been to pursue justice and sovereignty in the face of foreign interference allegations, which starkly contrasts with the earlier goal of strengthening bilateral ties and trade agreements with India.
Timeline
- Trudeau's government faced embarrassment when Khalistani nationalist Jaspal Atwal, convicted of an attempted murder of an Indian minister, was invited to a Canadian High Commission dinner in Delhi.
- Trudeau publicly stated that Canada possessed credible intelligence suggesting India's government was involved in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara.
- The statement triggered the Canada–India diplomatic row, with both nations expelling senior diplomats and trade talks being paused.
Actions Taken
- Diplomatic EscalationMade public the assertion, based on credible intelligence, that the Government of India was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
- Diplomatic ResponseResponded to the Nijjar killing allegation by expelling a senior Indian diplomat and suspending consular services in India.
- Security/Protocol CorrectionCanada's government rescinded an invitation to Khalistani nationalist Jaspal Atwal to a dinner party in Delhi after his past criminal convictions became public.
Criticism
Dismissed Trudeau's claims regarding the Nijjar killing as 'absurd' and 'motivated' following the diplomatic expulsions.
Criticized Trudeau's government for failing to recognize the severity of foreign interference sooner, particularly regarding India, and for damaging key trade relationships.
Sources2
- In September 2023, Trudeau said that the government of Canada had “credible intelligence” that the government of India was involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, outside a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey. This episode triggered the Canada–India diplomatic row.
- In February 2018, Trudeau was criticized when his government invited Khalistani nationalist Jaspal Atwal to the Canadian High Commission's dinner party in Delhi.
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.