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Canada-India Tensions Flare Up Again, Thanks to Trudeau

His comment comes amid a raging diplomatic fracas with India following Canada’s allegation that Indian officials are involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen…reports Asian Lite News

In a fresh provocation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X that he has discussed India “and the importance of upholding — and respecting — the rule of law” with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, the President of the United Arab Emirates.

In a post on Sunday, he said: “On the phone today, His Highness Mohammed Bin Zayed and I spoke about the current situation in Israel. We expressed our deep concern and discussed the need to protect civilian life. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding — and respecting — the rule of law.”

His comment comes amid a raging diplomatic fracas with India following Canada’s allegation that Indian officials are involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen. 

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most-wanted terrorists. India has strongly refuted the allegations.

ALSO READ: Canada Moves Diplomats From Delhi

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Sunak Calls for Calm Amid India-Canada Strain

In a call with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Friday evening, Sunak reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that he hoped to see a de-escalation in diplomatic tensions between India and Canada after New Delhi asked Ottawa to withdraw its 41 diplomats by October 10 amid worsening ties.

In a call with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Friday evening, Sunak reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law.

“The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” a government statement read.

Trudeau updated Sunak on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India, and both leaders “agreed to remain in contact on the next steps”.

Relations between Canada and India have nosedived after Trudeau alleged in Parliament last month that Indian intelligence agents may have been involved in the murder of Sikh pro-Khalistan hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Following Trudeau’s allegations, the two nations expelled a diplomat each, and India termed Canada’s allegations as “politically driven” and “absurd”.

Recently, New Delhi asked Ottawa to withdraw 41 out of its 62 diplomats in India to achieve a parity in the number of diplomatic staff in each country.

According to a CTV News report, Canada has evacuated the majority of its diplomatic staff from India and shifted them to either Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) or Singapore.

However, there has been no official word on their evacuation from New Delhi.

The news comes amid claims by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly on Tuesday that the government was engaged diplomatically with India on the issue of staff reduction.

“We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats’ safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,” Jolie had said.

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India Renews Call For Reduction in Canadian Diplomats

This development occurs in the midst of the ongoing diplomatic dispute between India and Canada..reports Asian Lite News

Stating that India’s focus is achieving ‘parity’ in terms of diplomatic presence, the Ministry of External Affairs further called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued “interference” in New Delhi’s “internal matters”.

This comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada after which New Delhi suspended the visa operations to Canada and called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India.

Addressing the press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here…and their continued interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this”.

“Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction,” he added.

On being asked if the reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats could see a decrease in the number of visas issued by the Canadian High Commission in India, Bagchi said, “It’s up to the Canadian side, who they choose to staff the High Commission with…our concerns are related to ensuring parity in diplomatic presence”.

He further added that India’s primary focus is on two things; having an atmosphere in Canada, where Indian diplomats can work properly and in achieving parity in terms of diplomatic strength.

Last month too, India had cited Canada’s “diplomatic interference in internal matters”, and stated there should be a parity in diplomatic staff strength.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had recently alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar.

Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’.

Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Meanwhile, Trudeau has said that Ottawa wants to “work constructively with India” regarding the allegations.

Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Canada Moves Diplomats From Delhi

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Canada Moves Diplomats From Delhi

Canada has evacuated the majority of its diplomatic staff from India and shifted them to either Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) or Singapore….reports Asian Lite News

With New Delhi asking Canada to withdraw 41 out its 62 diplomats in India by October 10 to achieve a parity in the number of diplomatic staff in each country, Ottawa has reportedly evacuated its staff from its High Commission to Southeast Asia, according to a media report.

The CTV report said that Canada has evacuated the majority of its diplomatic staff from India and shifted them to either Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) or Singapore.

But there was no official word on their evacuation from New Delhi.

The news comes amid claims by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly on Tuesday that the government was engaged diplomatically with India on the issue of staff reduction.

“We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats’ safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,” Jolie had said.

Amid the worsening bilateral ties, India has asked Canada to withdraw the 41 diplomats from the country by October 10 and failing to comply with the deadline will see them lose their diplomatic immunity.

There are more than 60 Canadian diplomats posted in India.

Meanwhile on Thursday, the External Affairs Ministrysaid that a parity has been sought in diplomatic presence.

“On discussions on parity, given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told mediapersons in response to a question on the issue.

He further informed that discussions are ongoing to achieve parity.

“Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction,” he said.

Last month, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged in Parliament that Indian intelligence agents may have been involved in the murder of Sikh pro-Khalistan hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the diplomatic relations have hit an all time low between the two nations.

Following Trudeau’s allegations, the two nations have expelled a diplomat each.

India had also termed Canada’s allegations as “politically driven”.

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Canada Grapples with Historical Apology for Awarding Nazi Veteran

Canada appoints first indigenous governor general(Photo: Instagram)

The Division members have been accused of killing Polish and Jewish civilians, although the unit has not been found guilty of any war crimes by a tribunal…reports Asian Lite News

 Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon has apologised for conferring the Order of Canada, a top civilian honor in the country, to a Nazi veteran in 1987, who later became the Chancellor of the University of Alberta, local media reported.

“It is with deep regret that we acknowledge that Mr. Peter Savaryn was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1987, and we express our sincere apology to Canadians for any distress or pain his appointment may have caused,” a statement issued by Simon ‘s office to the media said.

Savaryn’s Order of Canada biography includes his experience as a law firm partner, former Chancellor of the University of Alberta, and a World Leader of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians.

However, Savaryn also served during the Second World War in Nazi Waffen-SS Galicia Division, a voluntary unit made up mostly of ethnic Ukrainians under Nazi command.

The Division members have been accused of killing Polish and Jewish civilians, although the unit has not been found guilty of any war crimes by a tribunal.

Concerns arose over Savaryn’s background in the wake of a scandal over Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian-Canadian veteran who served in the same Waffen-SS unit as Savaryn.

On September 22 Hunka was praised by then-Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons Anthony Rota, who later apologised and stepped down on September 26.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also apologised on behalf of the country for the incident, saying that it was “a mistake that deeply embarrassed parliament and Canada”

In its statement, Simon’s office further said that historical appointments would have been made relative to the specific moment and “limited information sources available at that time”.

In instances where more information comes to light after an appointment, termination is possible.

Yet Savaryn’s appointment was terminated when he died in 2017, per protocol. 

ALSO READ-Canada Aims for Constructive Engagement with India

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Canada Aims for Constructive Engagement with India

Trudeau’s remarks have come amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada which started after the Canadian PM levelled allegations…reports Asian Lite News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said that his country was not “looking to escalate the situation with India,” adding that Ottawa wants to remain on the ground in New Delhi to help Canadians, Reuters reported. 

“Canada is not looking to escalate the situation with India, will continue to engage responsibly and constructively with New Delhi. We want to be on the ground in India to help the Canadian families there,” media quoted Trudeau as saying. 

Trudeau had said last week that Canada is still committed to building closer ties with India, despite “credible allegations of the Indian government’s involvement” in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada-based National Post reported. India has rejected the claims as “absurd” and “motivated”.

Pointing to the increasing influence of India worldwide, Trudeau said that it is “extremely important” that Canada and its allies continue to engage with India.

“India is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. And as we presented with our Indo-Pacific strategy, just last year, we’re very serious about building closer ties with India,” he had told reporters.

“At the same time, obviously, as a rule of law country, we need to emphasize that India needs to work with Canada to ensure that we get the full facts of this matter,” National Post quoted Trudeau as saying.

Trudeau’s remarks have come amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada which started after the Canadian PM levelled allegations.

Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed outside a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18. India has also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat.

During a debate in the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau claimed Canada’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of Nijjar.  India outrightly rejected the claims.

Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Canadian attitude towards terrorists, extremist people who openly advocate violence is very permissive.

“This has been an issue of great friction for many years with Canada. But in the last few years, it has come back very much into play because of what we consider to be a very permissive Canadian attitude towards terrorists, extremist people who openly advocate violence. And they have been given operating space in Canada because of the compulsions of Canadian politics.”

Speaking on the India-Canada row in Washington, Jaishankar stated that the Indian diplomats are unsafe going to the embassy in the country because of the situation there.

“…For us, it has certainly been a country where, organized crime from India, mixed with trafficking in people, mixed with secessionism, violence, terrorism– it’s a very toxic combination of issues and people, who have found operating space there.”

“Today, I’m actually in a situation where my diplomats are unsafe going to the embassy, or to the consulate in Canada. They are publicly intimidated. And that has actually compelled me to temporarily suspend even visa operations in Canada,” he added.

Jaishankar said that he also spoke with the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and US State Secretary Antony Blinken about Canada.

“The Canadian PM made some allegations initially privately, and then publicly. And our response to him, both in private and public– what he was alleging was not consistent with our policy. And that if he had, if his government had anything relevant and specific they would like us to look into, we were open to looking at it. Now, that’s where that conversation is at this point of time,” Jaishankar said.

Amid strained ties with Canada, India also issued an advisory for its citizens and those who are travelling to Canada to exercise “utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in the country. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Canada Seeks Private Talks with India to Resolve Diplomatic Dispute

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Diplomatic Tensions Escalate Over Nijjar Case

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday called on the Foreign minister of Canada, Melanie Joly, and held discussions on the G20 agenda and global developments.

Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed outside a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18. India has also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the ongoing diplomatic repercussions following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion regarding the potential involvement of Indian agents in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly emphasized the significance of retaining diplomats stationed in the region.

She said Canada believes in the importance of having a “strong diplomatic footprint” in India, Canada-based CPAC reported. 
Speaking to reporters, Joly said, “So in moments of tensions, because indeed there are tensions between both of the government more than ever, it’s important that diplomats be on the ground. And that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India.That being said, we are in go ongoing conversations with the Indian government, and we will continue…,” CPAC reported. 
She made the remarks in response to the question regarding reports claiming that India has asked Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country.

Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed outside a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18. India has also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau on Tuesday said his country was not “looking to escalate the situation with India,” adding that Ottawa wants to remain on the ground in New Delhi to help Canadians, Reuters reported.

“Canada is not looking to escalate the situation with India, will continue to engage responsibly and constructively with New Delhi. We want to be on the ground in India to help the Canadian families there,” Reuters quoted PM Trudeau as saying.

During a debate in the Canadian Parliament in September, Trudeau claimed Canada’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of Nijjar. India outrightly rejected the claims calling them “absured and motivated”.
Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the ongoing problem with Canada has been there for some years because of the “permissiveness” by the government regarding terrorism, extremism and violence in the country.

Jaishankar said the current situation can’t be termed a “deadlock”, adding that the Indian government is open to looking at any specific and relevant thing shared by the Canadian side in connection with the issue.
Addressing a press conference in Washington DC on Friday, Jaishankar said, “Well, I don’t know if I would use the term deadlock…The issue is as follows: The Canadians have made some allegations. We have pointed out to them that this is not the Government of India’s policy and if they are prepared to share with us specifics and anything relevant, we are also open to looking at it. So in that sense, that’s where the matter stands”. “But what we do not want to see is an incident treated in isolation because then that somewhere does not convey the right picture,” he added.

The EAM said the ongoing problem with Canada is because of the “permissiveness” regarding terrorism, extremism and violence in the country. “The fact is that we have had an ongoing problem with Canada and the Canadian government for some years now. And the ongoing problem really revolves around the permissiveness in regard to terrorism, extremism and violence,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “This permissiveness is also reflected in the fact that some important extradition requests have not been responded to from their side. In fact, that there are individuals and organizations who are clearly involved with violence and illegal activities in India, who have themselves declared it…I mean it is not a secret.”
The EAM further said that even though India wouldn’t have liked suspending the visa operations to Canada, it had to because the Canadian side “made it very difficult” for the Indian side to operate the services. (ANI)

ALSO READ-India seeks extradition of Khalistani Hardeep Nijjar from Canada

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US Expresses Concern Over Trudeau’s Allegations

Indian-American Vedant Patel. (Photo Credit: witter.com/vedantpatel90)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar…reports Asian Lite News

The United States has expressed profound concern over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations regarding the possible involvement of the Indian government in the fatal shooting of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The US has called upon the Indian government to actively cooperate with the Canadian investigation to ensure that those accountable for the incident are apprehended and face justice.

“We continue to be deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau and we remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners and it is critical that Canada’s investigation proceeds and perpetrators be brought to justice, we also have publically and privately urged the Indian govt to cooperate in the Canadian investigation…” said US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel. Patel made the remarks during the US State Department’s daily press briefing on Tuesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar.
Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

However, India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’. Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Meanwhile, Trudeau has said that Ottawa wants to “work constructively with India” regarding the allegations. While addressing a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trudeau said, “In regards to India, Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday. With India, we did that many weeks ago. We are there to work constructively with India and we hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter.”

EAM Jaishankar recently said that the ongoing problem with Canada has been there for some years because of the “permissiveness” by the Canadian government regarding terrorism, extremism and violence in the country.

Jaishankar said that the current situation can’t be termed a “deadlock”, adding that the Indian government is open to looking at any specific and relevant thing shared by the Canadian side in connection with the issue.
Addressing a press conference in Washington DC on Friday, Jaishankar said, “Well, I don’t know if I would use the term deadlock…The issue is as follows: The Canadians have made some allegations. We have pointed out to them that this is not the Government of India’s policy and if they are prepared to share with us specifics and anything relevant, we are also open to looking at it. So in that sense, that’s where the matter stands”. (ANI)

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Canada Seeks Private Talks with India to Resolve Diplomatic Dispute

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday called on the Foreign minister of Canada, Melanie Joly, and held discussions on the G20 agenda and global developments.

The Financial Times reported that India had threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of the 41 diplomats if they remained in India beyond October 10. Canada currently has 62 diplomats in India…reports Asian Lite News

Canada’s Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, has expressed the country’s desire for private discussions with India to address an ongoing diplomatic dispute related to the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The dispute has led to strained relations between the two nations. Joly emphasized the seriousness of ensuring the safety of Canadian diplomats and stressed the importance of diplomatic conversations remaining private.

This statement follows reports that India had requested Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats. India allegedly set a deadline of October 10 for the repatriation of these diplomats. However, neither Joly nor Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the accuracy of these reports.

Tensions between India and Canada escalated due to Canadian suspicions of Indian government involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada earlier this year. India had labeled Nijjar as a “terrorist” while Canada dismissed the allegation as absurd.

The Financial Times reported that India had threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of the 41 diplomats if they remained in India beyond October 10. Canada currently has 62 diplomats in India.

In response to the escalating situation, India suspended new visas for Canadians on September 22 and requested Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. There are indications that India may also revoke the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status of certain individuals considered “troublemakers” on a case-by-case basis.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged the challenging nature of the situation with India but emphasized Canada’s commitment to constructive relations. He stated that Canada is not looking to escalate the dispute and underscored the importance of having diplomats on the ground in India.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had previously cited a “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada, primarily due to the presence of Sikh separatist groups, which has been a source of concern for New Delhi.

ALSO READ-Greg Fergus Becomes Canada’s First Black Speaker of the House of Commons

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Greg Fergus Becomes Canada’s First Black Speaker of the House of Commons

The new Speaker’s first task will be to help the Parliament turn the page on the Nazi veteran affair, according to local media reports…reports Asian Lite News

In a historic moment, Greg Fergus, a member of Canada’s Liberal Parliament, has been chosen as the 38th Speaker of the House of Commons in the country. Fergus, who represents the Quebec constituency of Hull-Aylmer near Ottawa, has achieved the distinction of becoming the first Black Canadian to assume the role of Speaker of the House of Commons in Canada, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Elected by fellow members of parliament through a secret ballot, the Speaker oversees the sittings and proceedings of the House, maintaining order and decorum in the chamber, providing impartial interpretation of its rules, and defending the rights and privileges of its members.

The Speaker also oversees the House of Commons administration, serves as its spokesperson in its relations with the Senate, the Crown, and other bodies outside the Parliament, and fulfills various ceremonial and diplomatic duties.

The new Speaker’s first task will be to help the Parliament turn the page on the Nazi veteran affair, according to local media reports.

The former speaker, Anthony Rota, stepped down from the post last Tuesday amid controversies over his invitation to a veteran who fought for a Nazi military unit during the Second World War.

Fergus, born in May 1969, was first elected a member of parliament in 2015. 

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