The Indo-Canadian diplomatic standoff, which is almost on the brink of a total breakdown, is a rare phenomenon in the realm of diplomatic relationship. The problematic issue that led to this situation is the murder of Nijjer', a self-styled Khalistani leader by unknown gunman in Canada. This was a simple problem of law and order, given the fact that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was blamed by the Canadian police for this crime. But the Sikhs residing in Canada are very influential and they constitute an important vote bank. The Sikhs in general and the Sikhs advocating the cause of Sikhs in the name of a separate  Sikh nation Khalistan are two distinct groups. It would be a folly to believe that the Sikhs living in Canada are supporters of Khalistan. They are not. A handful of Sikhs run a movement for Khalistan in Canada and they don't have a substantial support of the Sikhs living over there. These Sikhs are wanted criminals in India and the Canadian government should have treated them that way. Instead, they are protected and patronised by the Canadian government and are being used as a leverage against India to woo the Sikh voters in Canada. Every politician is guided by the vote bank politics but one should know the limit otherwise one is likely to land in trouble.

India has withdrawn its top six diplomats because the Canadian government was dragging their names in the Nijjer murder case. At the same time, India has expelled Six top Canadian diplomats and they have been asked to leave the country before midnight of 19th October. Therefore, the diplomatic relationship between India and Canada has reached a flashpoint. Now the US and UK have shown support to the unfounded Canadian allegation and asked India to cooperate in the matter. This development clearly shows that that the Canadian allegation against India is well scripted and America is behind the whole issue to armtwist India to toe its line in international politics. The UK has declined as a power and America is on decline. The US hegemony in Asia can only be resurrected with the help of India. The US led NATO can not take on the formidable alliance of China, Russia and Iran because of their demographic poverty. The Allied Powers won the first and second world wars with the support of Indian men and materials. Any big war in future involving many nations or possibly the third world war can not be won by the US led West without the support of India. That's why the US led West is restless to bring India to its side. The present Indian government is strong and the American Deep State tried its best to throw spanners on the way of BJP led NDA to return to power for the third consecutive term but failed, though it dented the majority of the BJP.

The Nijjer issue and for that matter the Pannu issue in America are the manifestation of the desire of the West to destabilize India. S. Jaishankar gave a brilliant reply to all these forces in Pakistan while attending the SCO summit. He rightly said that co-operation can be given only when independence and sovereign of a nation is respected. The unfounded Canadian allegation against India in the Nijjer murder case and the American allegation against India regarding attempted assassination bid on Pannu is an unwarranted encroachment upon the sovereignty of India. India should throw these allegations to the dustbin of diplomacy as China does time and again. No power in the world, including America, has sufficient resources of men and material to take on  India and China. The Western audacity to test the patience of an emerging strong India would land them in great trouble. Just imagine, a strong alliance between India,  China and Russia and the decimation of the western powers that would follow. It is poor diplomacy on the part of the West to push India into forming such an alliance. 

Diplomacy is the game of patience and instead of acting as a bully, the West should try to adjust to the emerging world order and maintain peace in the world.

The writer is a noted academician and political commentator. Views expressed in the article are personal.