The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 17th October 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Canadian frostbite

Why in News?

India has ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler. It also announced the withdrawal of its own High Commissioner and other diplomats from Canada, citing security concerns.

• This comes after Canada identified these Indian diplomats as “persons of interest” in an ongoing investigation into the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.

India-Canada Relations

Background

• Diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 1947.
• During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Canada in 2015, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership.

Commercial Relations

• Bilateral Trade Relation - India was the 10th largest trading partner for Canada.
• In the fiscal year 2022-23, India's total exports to Canada reached US$ 4.10 billion, an increase from US$ 3.76 billion in 2021-22.
• India's imports from Canada totaled US$ 4.05 billion in 2022-23, rising from US$ 3.13 billion in 2021-22.

CEPA/EPTA Negotiations

• In March 2022, both countries agreed to restart negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• They also decided to pursue an interim agreement called the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) to benefit both nations commercially.
• Trade discussions were suspended in September 2023 due to a diplomatic conflict related to the murder of Nijjar.

Nuclear Cooperation

• Canada began providing aid to India in the nuclear sector in 1956, but the relationship soured after India conducted the Smiling Buddha nuclear test in 1974.
• Canada was one of the first countries to support India's nuclear power initiatives.
• The CIRUS reactor, India's first research reactor, was built with Canadian assistance.
• Nuclear cooperation was restored in June 2010 with the signing of a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) with Canada.

People-to-People Connections

• Canada is home to one of the largest populations of Indians in the world, with about 1.6 million people of Indian origin (PIOs and NRIs), making up over 4% of its total population.
• In politics, the current House of Commons, which has 338 members, includes 22 Members of Parliament of Indian origin.

Challenges in India-Canada relations

Separatist Khalistani groups

• Canada has been seen as a safe place for Khalistani separatist groups, which the Indian government views as the Liberal Party trying to gain votes.
• Many daispora Sikhs hold positions in Trudeau's government, and some of them receive support from pro-Khalistan groups.
• Jagmeet 'Jimmy' Dhaliwal, a member of the New Democratic Party that supports Trudeau's minority government, is viewed suspiciously by Indian authorities.
• Last year, India protested when Canada allowed a Khalistani referendum among the Sikh community.

Slow action against anti-India elements

• There are ongoing concerns that Canada does not act quickly against individuals or groups that are anti-India.
• A significant controversy arose in June 2023 over a social media video of a parade float that depicted the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Canada.
• The float showed a female figure in a blood-stained white saree, with men in turbans pointing guns at her.
• This parade seemed to celebrate Indira Gandhi’s assassination and was reportedly organized by pro-Khalistani supporters just days before the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar (June 6).

Other sources of tension

• There have been attacks on people of Indian origin.
• Comments from Canada regarding India’s farmer protests and the cancellation of diplomatic talks also caused disagreements.

Background of the India-Canada Diplomatic Dispute

• Death of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) leader 
  • Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted by the Indian government, was killed in a targeted shooting in June 2023. 
  • In 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information on Nijjar.
  • This reward was issued after he was accused of plotting to murder a Hindu priest in Jalandhar, Punjab.
  • Nijjar was shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey.
• Discussion during the G20 Summit
  • On September 10, during the G20 Summit in Delhi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Modi talked about Khalistani extremism.
  • Trudeau brought up concerns about foreign involvement in Nijjar's murder and asked India to help with the investigation.
  • Modi, in response, expressed serious worries about the ongoing anti-India actions by extremist groups in Canada.
• Trudeau discusses the issue in the Canadian Parliament 
  • On September 18, 2023, Trudeau informed the Parliament that Canada was looking into serious claims that linked Indian government agents to Nijjar's death. 
  • India rejected Trudeau's claims, calling them absurd.
  • In a reciprocal action, both countries expelled a diplomat, with Canada removing India’s top intelligence officer and India expelling Canada’s counterpart.

Recent Diplomatic Escalation

India's Response and Diplomatic Withdrawal

• India announced it was pulling out its diplomats due to safety concerns, claiming that the Trudeau government failed to protect them.
• On the evening of October 14, India’s Ministry of External Affairs called in Canadian diplomats and told them that six diplomats would be expelled.
• This action came after Ottawa identified India’s High Commissioner to Canada and several other diplomats as persons of interest in the investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Long-standing Tensions in India-Canada Relations

• India has criticized Trudeau’s views on multiple matters, such as his support for the farmers’ protests in India and his perceived tolerance towards the Khalistani separatist movements.
• India accused Canada of providing a safe haven for extremists and ignoring extradition requests for people involved in organized crime and terrorism against India.

Canada’s Position and Evidence

• The Acting High Commissioner of Canada claimed that they had presented credible evidence connecting Indian agents to Nijjar’s murder and called on India to assist in the investigation.

Allegations by Canadian Police Against Indian Government

• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) accused Indian government agents of working with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to spread fear in Canada.
• Lawrence Bishnoi, a gangster from Punjab currently in prison in India, is suspected by Mumbai police of being involved in the recent murder of former MLA Baba Siddiqui.
• Bishnoi’s criminal network is thought to be active in Canada, and Canadian officials allege that the Indian government has used this network to target dissidents.