ottawa –
The British government says India should cooperate with Canada’s investigation into accusations that New Delhi is involved in a rise in violent crime in Canada, but strategic interests have led to the ally’s bombshell statement. Analysts have warned that this could limit the country’s ability to respond.
Meanwhile, the four major political parties have called for an emergency meeting, with MPs likely to consider how best for Ottawa to respond to the allegations.
The federal government expelled six Indian diplomats on Monday after the RCMP said it had credible evidence that Indian agents were involved in extortion, coercion and murder of Canadian citizens in Canada. India has refused to waive diplomatic immunity for six diplomats answering RCMP questions related to the investigation.
Canadian authorities said Indian authorities were collecting intelligence leading to a criminal organization targeting Khalistani separatists who advocate carving out a Sikh homeland from India.
Sushant Singh, a lecturer at Yale University who specializes in Indian foreign policy, said secession of Khalistan is particularly sensitive to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the movement nearly reached its peak in the 1980s.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was furious after Canadian groups organized a secession referendum and after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern about the 2020 protests by Indian farmers, many of whom are Sikhs. Despite that.
“The reality is there is no threat,” Singh said of the actions of Canadians and officials on the Khalistan issue. “It has little impact in India.”
He said it was noteworthy that Canadian officials said they had tried to raise concerns about India-related escalation of violence at the highest levels, but with little success.
“The Indian side was not interested enough to really react to whatever evidence was presented,” he said. “If they follow the Canadian version, it’s clear they have little choice but to up their stakes.”
Mr. Singh is unsure how much other countries will support Canada, as many of Ottawa’s allies see New Delhi as its best hope for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, especially as tensions with China deepen. do not have.
Britain’s Foreign Office said Wednesday it was in contact with Ottawa about Monday’s “serious developments” and insisted India’s cooperation with Canada’s legal process was the “right next step.”
On Tuesday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told reporters that the U.S. has long urged India to cooperate with Canadian authorities, but declined to comment on the nature of the new allegations.
In a statement, New Zealand said only that the allegations were alarming and would await judicial proceedings, without mentioning India.
Singh said US President Joe Biden had taken a strategic approach in dealing with an undisclosed indictment in New York alleging that Indian government officials directed an assassination attempt in the US. The US government this week welcomed a commission of inquiry from India to discuss the case.
“Many believe that the current US administration, the Biden administration, is overlooking important aspects of the deal and red lines that should not be overlooked in trying to look at the larger strategic picture of contrasts with China and the Indo-Pacific. “I’ve surpassed that,” he said.
“I think Canada’s response regarding Canada should be considered in light of that.”
Singh noted that the New York case echoes Canada’s claim that Indian investigators relied on criminal organizations to carry out the alleged acts.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in September 2023 that Canadian intelligence agencies are investigating potential links between the Indian government and the June 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. They announced that they are looking into reliable information.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday in response to the federal inquiry into foreign interference that Canada’s official position has always been to respect India’s territorial sovereignty.
In his testimony, Trudeau said Modi had expressed concern about pro-Khalistan sentiment in Canada after he confronted the Indian prime minister over Nijjar’s murder.
Prime Minister Trudeau has offered to work with India on the terrorist incident, but said Canadians also have a right to freedom of expression.
“My position and Canada’s position is to protect India’s territorial integrity,” Trudeau told the committee.
“One India is official Canadian policy, and the fact that there are many people in Canada who argue otherwise does not make it Canadian policy, but it also does not make it illegal in Canada. .”
MPs signed a joint letter on Tuesday calling on the House of Commons public safety committee to meet at least once to discuss “steps the government can take to protect Canadians.”
Lawmakers cite parliamentary rules that require the clerk to meet within five days of receiving the letter. The committee must issue notice two days in advance of the meeting. The House of Representatives is out of session this week, but lawmakers can appear before committees virtually and call witnesses.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
— With files from Laura Osman
