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The relationship between India and Canada has lately been rather turbulent, filled with successive diplomatic clashes and accusations. The latest round of this controversy centers around claims that Canadian officials are accusing Indian Home Minister Amit Shah of involvement in a plot targeting Khalistani separatists in Canada. This explosive accusation comes on the heels of the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a leading Sikh separatist leader, in Surrey, Canada. India has categorically denied these accusations, but the diplomatic row remains deepening, with both countries expelling top diplomats and suspending services. Here is a comprehensive timeline of key events leading to the current state of affairs.
Timeline of India-Canada Tensions Over Khalistani Separatists
Amarinder Singh
February 2018: Trudeau's Visit to India
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had visited India during which he met Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. In this visit, Singh had handed over a list of criminals believed to be located in Canada. Among these was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a separatist Khalistani who belonged to banned outfits such as Babbar Khalsa and Sikhs for Justice. Nijjar was a wanted man by Indian police as he was trying to revive terrorism in Punjab for which he carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh for his arrest.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar
April 2018: The Detention and Release of Nijjar
The Canadian government detained Nijjar for a few weeks in April 2018, following an extradition request by India. But just after a week, the Canadian authorities were compelled to release him due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
June 2023: Assassination of Nijjar
On June 18, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada. Nijjar was the president of the gurdwara and marked the third Khalistani separatist to be killed in the last 45 days. Before his death, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-based comrade of Nijjar, said Nijjar had told him of a grave threat to his life, allegedly communicated to him by
Canadian intelligence officials.
September 2023: The Diplomatic Fallout
On September 10, 2023, during a G-20 summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns to Trudeau over Sikh separatist protests on Canadian soil. A week later, the Canadian prime minister addressed the Canadian Parliament, claiming there were "credible links" between Indian government agents and Nijjar's assassination. In response, India labeled the allegations "absurd" and "baseless" and accused the Canadian government of playing vote-bank politics and ignoring extremist elements.
Both expelled each other's top intelligence officers and suspended visa services for Canadian citizens.
The Canadian government has made serious allegations against India’s Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, claiming he was involved in a campaign targeting pro-Khalistan supporters on Canadian soil. The accusations surfaced as Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison spoke before a parliamentary committee, where he reportedly confirmed the involvement of Shah following an inquiry from a U.S.-based journalist with The Washington Post.
However, Morrison did not disclose any specific evidence to substantiate the claims. India’s Ministry of External Affairs and its High Commission in Ottawa have not yet issued an official response.
Background: Canada-India Diplomatic Tensions
The allegations mark an escalation in the diplomatic row between Canada and India, which began after the June 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Canadian officials have accused Indian agents of involvement in Nijjar’s death, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting a direct link. Both countries have since expelled diplomats, with Ottawa recently designating Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma as a "person of interest" in the ongoing probe.
Historic Khalistan Movement and Sikh Separatism
The Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh homeland within India, has been a source of contention for decades. An insurgency in Punjab during the 1980s and early 1990s saw thousands of lives lost, with the movement deeply embedded in the history of Sikh relations with India. This period includes the infamous 1984 anti-Sikh riots, triggered by the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi following a military operation at the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine.
Accusations of Intimidation and Threats
According to Canadian officials, the campaign allegedly endorsed by Shah involved acts of violence and intimidation against pro-Khalistan individuals in Canada, including suspected ties to criminal organizations like the Bishnoi gang. Ottawa has hinted at potential sanctions against India should the allegations gain further traction, adding further strain to already-tense bilateral relations.
With inputs from Reuters
Image Source: The Telegraph online
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