Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the “One India” policy on Wednesday while addressing the Foreign Interference Commission. However, he claimed that India’s response to Ottawa’s stance has been an attack on Canada’s democracy and integrity.
The diplomatic tensions between the two nations have escalated recently, with India recalling its top envoy from Canada and expelling six Canadian diplomats. Trudeau’s comments come in the wake of these developments, as he testified that his government had intelligence but no concrete proof linking India to the 2023 killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. He admitted that while advocating for Khalistan is not illegal in Canada, it does not reflect official policy.
Despite Canada’s “One India” stance, India has long raised concerns about the Ottawa government’s inaction against pro-Khalistan elements operating on Canadian soil. These concerns include the organization of Khalistan referendums and Nijjar’s alleged involvement in violent activities. India has accused Canada of turning a blind eye to these issues, allowing anti-India activities to flourish.
Trudeau alleged that Indian diplomats were collecting information on Canadians opposing the Modi government and claimed this intelligence was used by criminal organizations to incite violence in Canada. He further accused India of refusing Canadian attempts to cooperate on investigations into Nijjar’s murder.
India, however, has dismissed Trudeau’s allegations as baseless and “motivated,” asserting that Canada has provided no evidence to back its claims. The ongoing row has strained ties between the two nations, with India pushing back against what it perceives as a failure on Canada’s part to address violent separatist activities.
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