Trudeau Accuses India of a ‘Big Mistake’ Amid Tensions

Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has accused India of making a big mistake that Canada can’t ignore. This comes after Canadian officials said India may be linked to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada last year.

Trudeau made these comments after Canada accused India of being involved in violent acts against Indian dissidents living in Canada. These accusations have worsened the already tense relationship between the two countries, leading both to expel top diplomats.

India has denied these claims, calling them false, and accused Trudeau of using this issue to gain favor with Canada’s Sikh community.

Trudeau criticized India’s reaction to Canada’s investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader shot in British Columbia in June 2023. Nijjar supported the Khalistan movement, which calls for a separate homeland for Sikhs.

Trudeau said that Canada had to take any violation of its sovereignty seriously. He mentioned that he received intelligence linking India to Nijjar’s death, but at the time, it wasn’t enough to be considered hard evidence. Since then, four Indian nationals have been charged in connection with the murder.

The prime minister said he had hoped to handle the matter quietly to avoid harming the relationship with India, a major trade partner. However, Indian officials did not help with the investigation.

Trudeau also talked about new details released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which revealed that there have been many threats to the lives of pro-Khalistan movement members in Canada. The RCMP has accused Indian government agents of being behind crimes like shootings, home invasions, and extortion in Canada.

India continues to deny all these allegations and says Canada has not provided any evidence.

The situation has caught the attention of Canada’s allies, like the UK and US, who have urged India to work with Canada in this investigation. Canada’s foreign minister also said they are in contact with international intelligence partners about the issue.