Ottawa, Canada – In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, India’s envoy to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has publicly accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of jeopardizing the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries. This accusation follows Trudeau's controversial claims regarding the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2022. Verma’s remarks came during an interview with CTV News, where he dismissed Trudeau's allegations of Indian government involvement in Nijjar's death as "politically motivated" and lacking in concrete evidence.
Trudeau had previously admitted before a public inquiry into foreign interference that the claims were based solely on intelligence inputs rather than "hard evidentiary proof." “The problem is that when he accused, he himself admitted there was no hard evidence. There was intelligence. On the basis of intelligence, if you want to destroy a relationship, be my guest. And that’s what he (Trudeau) did,” Verma stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation for diplomatic relations. Tensions escalated further as India recently expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its High Commissioner to Canada in response to the allegations linking Verma to the Nijjar probe.
In retaliation, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, deepening the diplomatic rift. Nijjar, who had been declared a terrorist by India due to his alleged involvement with pro-Khalistani activities, was targeted in a shooting that has since prompted a heated debate surrounding the presence of Khalistani elements in Canada. India has consistently accused Canada of providing a safe haven for these separatists, a claim that Ottawa has rejected. Verma criticized Canada for failing to share evidence prior to making such serious allegations in Parliament.
“Evidence should have been shared first, but someone decided to stand in the Parliament and talk about a thing for which he himself has said there was ‘no hard evidence’,” he remarked, referring to Trudeau's address last September. The fallout from the allegations has seen bilateral relations plummet, with Verma stating, “Since then, he has made it sure that the bilateral relation with India only goes downwards, spiraling down.”
As both nations grapple with the implications of these accusations and the resulting diplomatic fallout, the situation remains precarious. New Delhi continues to reject Ottawa’s assertions linking Indian officials to criminal activities in Canada, with official sources emphasizing that the evidence purportedly shared by Canada was “simply not true.” With tensions at an all-time high, the future of India-Canada relations remains uncertain, as both governments navigate the complex landscape of national security, diplomacy, and public perception.