All eyes are on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s impending address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he is expected to respond to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “credible allegations” regarding Indian involvement in the killing of Pak-trained Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar in June.
This article delves into the complexities surrounding this issue, the significance of Sikh politics in Canada, and the evolving dynamics of India-Canada relations.
The Allegations and Lack of Evidence:
While New Delhi awaits legal evidence from Canada linking India to the assassination of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Nijjar, Trudeau’s political stance suggests he will not back down.
Regardless of the quality of evidence or intelligence, it is anticipated that Trudeau will implicate an Indian individual in Nijjar’s murder.
The Role of the Sikh Vote in Canadian Politics:
The Sikh vote holds immense importance in Canadian politics, as demonstrated by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s request for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit a Gurudwara in British Columbia during Modi’s 2015 visit to Canada.
Despite concerns, PM Modi found supporters even within the radicalized Sikh community in Vancouver.
Canada’s Travel Advisory to India:
Canada updated its travel advisory to India, providing advanced notice to India’s South Block in Response to certain videos targeting Canada circulating online.
India was informed at a senior level about this update, and it is emphasized that this should not be misinterpreted.
Expected Response at the UNGA:
Given that Trudeau chose the Canadian Parliament as the platform for his unsubstantiated allegations against the Modi government, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar is expected to deliver a robust response at the UNGA.
Subsequently, he will travel to Washington DC, for bilateral meetings with the Biden Administration, during which the credibility of evidence provided by the Five Eyes Alliance to Canada on Nijjar’s killing will likely be discussed.
As time passes, the onus is on the Trudeau government to name the contract killer of Nijjar promptly unless the intention is to keep the issue simmering and revive it with another unsubstantiated allegation in the future.
India maintains that it supports the legal process in Canada but will vehemently challenge any unfounded charges against the country.
It is imperative for Trudeau or his political ally, Jagmeet Singh, to provide credible evidence against India in writing to address the decline in bilateral ties initiated by their government’s contentious remarks.
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