Canada-India relations strain over killing of Sikh separatist leader

LONDON — The diplomatic breach between Canada and India over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader close to Vancouver has widened as each nations expelled one of the opposite’s diplomats and India suspended visa processing for Canadian electorate.

Ties between the 2 nations, which can be shut safety and business companions and U.S. allies, strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Monday that investigators have been actively probing “credible allegations” in regards to the possible involvement of Indian govt brokers within the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs temporarily rejected Trudeau’s allegations, calling them “absurd” and accusing Canada of sheltering “terrorists and extremists” who “continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” in keeping with a statement.

Nijjar, who lived in Canada for over twenty years and advocated for Sikh independence whilst operating a plumbing industry, used to be gunned down on June 18 in entrance of a temple in Surrey, close to Vancouver. In 2020, the Indian govt had labeled him as a terrorist belonging to a banned militant crew, accusations that Nijjar and his fans all the time denied.

Canada is house to the biggest Sikh inhabitants outdoor of India. According to Statistics Canada, the North American country is house to one.35 million Indians who make up round 3 p.c of Canada’s inhabitants.

In a notice posted on Thursday on BLS International, India’s visa utility heart in Canada, the middle introduced it’s postponing visa products and services for Canadians “until further” understand because of “operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023.”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs additionally issued an advisory for Indian Nationals and scholars in Canada, urging them to “exercise utmost caution” because of “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada.”

ABC News has reached out to India’s Ministry of External Affairs for remark.

“We are not looking to provoke or cause problems, but we are unequivocal about the rule of law and unequivocal about protecting Canadians and standing up for our values,” Trudeau informed journalists on the United Nations on Thursday.

“That is why we call upon the government of India to work with us to establish processes, to uncover the truth of the matter and allow justice and accountability to be served,” he stated.

Trudeau used to be in touch with U.S. President Joe Biden’s management in regards to the findings on which he based totally his allegations prior to he made them public, a U.S. respectable told AP on situation of anonymity.

In reaction to the row, U.S. most sensible nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan informed journalists that there are “no exceptions” for movements like this.

“Regardless of the country, we will stand up and defend our basic principles and we will also consult closely with allies like Canada as they pursue their law enforcement and diplomatic process,” Sullivan stated.

Canada-India relations have grown considerably in recent times, with the Canadian govt announcing that bilateral business in items reached just about 12 billion Canadian bucks in 2023 – an building up of 57 p.c from the former yr.

Now, power is mounting for the Canadian govt to percentage extra of the proof for its “credible allegations,” particularly as some of the proof reportedly got here from Five Eyes allies, an intelligence-sharing community that comes with the U.S., U.Okay., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the CBC reported this week, bringing up Canadian govt resources.

It’s unclear whether or not the Nijjar query used to be already introduced up on the fresh G20 summit in New Delhi. A couple of days later, Canada introduced it used to be cancelling a business venture to India deliberate for the autumn.

ABC News’ Victoria Beaule contributed to this document.