Canada isolated as India roars

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Canada isolated as India roars

Thursday, 21 September 2023 | Pioneer News Service | New Delhi

Canada isolated  as India roars

Amid a huge diplomatic conflagration following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India on Wednesday issued an advisory urging its nationals in Canada and those contemplating to travel there to exercise utmost caution in view of anti-India activities in some parts of that country.

This note of caution came a day after Canada issued an advisory to its nationals to remain vigilant while travelling to India. 

In another development External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reportedly briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday here about the chain of events over the last two days.

A day after Trudeau’s allegation of India’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar, the Canadian media reported that Ottawa’s Five Eye allies were not keen on taking sides. Canada is part of a “Five Eyes” network which is an intelligence alliance consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. They showed little inclination to wade into an escalating row between Ottawa and New Delhi over allegations.

India on Tuesday rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.

Reacting to developments, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said, “Canada is a dear friend, partner and ally and happens to be our northern neighbour. We care deeply for Canada just as we care deeply for India. I think that moments like this don’t define our relationship, but they certainly can slow down progress...With an active criminal investigation, I hope that we can make sure that perpetrators are brought to justice and that we can all allow the space for that information and that investigation to occur before anybody leaps to judgment.”

The advisory issued by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), it said, “In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian Diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda.

“Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.

“Our High Commission/Consulates General will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well being of the Indian community in Canada.”

Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.

Indian nationals and students from India in Canada must also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in.

“Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any emergency or untoward incident,” it said.

Meanwhile, the latest row between India and Canada will not impact bilateral military engagement and the Canadian Army will take part in the conclave of the Indo-Pacific army chiefs in Delhi next week, a senior Indian Army official said here on Wednesday.

The Indian Army is hosting the conclave on September 26 and 27 with an aim to evolve a common strategy to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China’s increasing military muscle-flexing in the region.

               “It doesn’t impact us. The Canadian Army (vice) Chief is coming in here, his delegation is coming here,” said Major General Abhinaya Rai, the Additional Director General of Strategic Planning at the Army headquarters.

“Like when we look at our relationship with some of our neighbours...Where we may have had a standoff but we continue to engage them at all levels, be it the military level and at the diplomatic level. And I am referring directly to China here,” he said. Major General Rai suggested that India’s diplomatic and military engagement with Canada would not be impacted. A Canadian military official also asserted that the diplomatic row will not impact the defence engagement between India and Canada.           Fifteen Army chiefs and delegations from 22 countries will attend the event to be held in Delhi on September 26 and 27, officials said. The US Army is co-hosting the conference.

Speaking in the Canadian Parliament on Monday, Trudeau had said his Government had “credible allegations” linking the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June with the “agents of the Government of India”. The Indian Government has rejected the claim as “absurd and motivated”.

Nijjar, 45, was an Indian terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and was assassinated outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. He was one of India’s most wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh. Amid the rising tensions between the two countries, Trudeau on Tuesday assured that his in not looking to “provoke” India but wants the Indian Government to take Nijjar’s killing with “utmost seriousness”.

“We are not looking to provoke or escalate. We want to work with the Government of India to lay everything clear and to ensure there are proper processes,” Trudeau said. In a strongly-worded statement, the MEA on Tuesday trashed Trudeau’s comments asserting that “such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The diplomatic row comes shortly after the issue was raised between  Trudeau and the Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the recently concluded G20 summit in New Delhi.

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