Is Justin Trudeau supporting Khalistan terrorism just to be in power?

India and Canada recently took the significant step of expelling each other's top diplomats, resulting in a sharp deterioration of their bilateral relations. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that security agencies in his country were looking into a potential connection between India and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan separatist, which occurred in British Columbia in June. This investigative inquiry ultimately led to the expulsion of diplomats from both nations.

India's foreign ministry swiftly rejected Canada's charges, accusing Canada of harbouring "Khalistani terrorists and extremists" who pose a threat to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern about Canada's prolonged inaction and its support for illicit activities.

Critics question why Justin Trudeau maintains a "soft" stance on Khalistani separatists who promote anti-India sentiments in Canada. To understand this, let's delve into the matter.

Recently, Trudeau made the allegation that India had a role in the killing of a Canadian citizen at a Sikh temple in British Columbia in June. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the victim, held a prominent position within the Sikh diaspora in Canada and actively advocated for Khalistan as part of a group.

India rejects Trudeau's allegations, terming them "absurd" and "motivated". The MEA dismissed Canada's politically driven allegations against India's involvement in Hardeep Nijjar's killing, stating that Canada provided no specific information on the case.

Canada’s large Indian diaspora

Canada has a huge Indian community, with around 1.4 million people of Indian origin out of a total population of 40 million. Among them, about 770,000 are Sikhs, making Canada the second-largest Sikh population in the world after India.

Sikhs are an influential voting group in Canada, and they have representatives in various levels of the Canadian government. However, it's important to note that not all Canadian Sikhs support the idea of Khalistan, and it's not a major concern for most of them.

Some Canadian leaders are cautious about this issue because they don't want to lose Sikh votes, even though not all Sikhs in Canada support Khalistan.

Khalistan supporters have become increasingly vocal and active in Canadian politics in recent years. They have formed their own political parties, run for office, and organized protests and rallies. Khalistan supporters are also active in the Canadian Sikh community, where they have built a strong base of support.

One of the most prominent Khalistan supporters in Canadian politics is Jaswinder Sidhu, a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. Sidhu supports the Khalistan movement vocally, and people have accused her of promoting violence against India. Sidhu was elected by the House of Commons of Canada in 2015, and she has won re-election twice since then.

Timeline of India-Canada ties unravelling over a year

September 2022:

• Tensions rise between India and Canada over incidents involving vandalized Hindu temples in Canada and the killing of a Sikh man in India.

November 2022:

• India and Canada hold a joint working group meeting on terrorism and organized crime.
• The two sides agree to cooperate in combating these threats.

December 2022:

• Trudeau visits India and meets with Modi.
• The two leaders discuss a range of issues, including bilateral relations, trade, and security.
• They also discuss the issue of Khalistan terrorism.

January 2023:

• India and Canada hold a joint exercise on counter-terrorism.
• The two sides also hold talks on trade and investment.

February 2023:

• Someone shot and killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh extremist leader, in Surrey, British Columbia.
• Trudeau accuses India of involvement in Nijjar's killing.
• India rejects Trudeau's accusation and calls it "baseless and unwarranted."

June 2023:

• India withdraws its high commissioner to Canada, Arvind Gupta, for consultations.
• Canada withdraws its high commissioner to India, Nadir Patel, for consultations.

July 2023:

• India and Canada agree to send back their respective high commissioners to New Delhi and Ottawa.
• Gupta and Patel return to their respective capitals.

August 2023:

• India expels 2 Canadian diplomats in retaliation for Canada's expulsion of 2 Indian diplomats in Feb 2023.
• Canada expels two Indian diplomats in retaliation for India's expulsion of two Canadian diplomats.
• India and Canada agree to de-escalate tensions and work towards restoring their relationship.

September 2023:

• India and Canada are actively working to restore their relationship with low diplomatic engagement.

Tensions between India and Canada have been fueled by upcoming elections. Trudeau is facing a tough re-election bid in 2023 and has been accused of being too soft on India.

Justin Trudeau's support for Khalistan supporters

Accusers have pointed fingers at Justin Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister, alleging that he supports Khalistan supporters in a bid to secure election victories. Trudeau has cultivated a significant Sikh support base and actively sought the favor of Khalistan proponents to maintain their backing.

In 2018, Trudeau's government eliminated the term "Sikh extremism" from a terrorism threat report in Canada. This decision was perceived as a concession to Khalistan supporters who have consistently argued that the Canadian government unfairly targets the Sikh community.

In 2023, Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani extremist who was fatally shot in Canada. This accusation ignited a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada.

Trudeau's endorsement of Khalistan supporters has faced criticism from both the Indian government and many Canadians. The Indian government has accused Trudeau of meddling in India's internal affairs and of endorsing terrorism. Many Canadians have accused Trudeau of prioritizing his own political interests over those of Canada.

How powerful are Khalistan supporters in Canadian politics?

Khalistan supporters are becoming increasingly powerful in Canadian politics. They have formed their own political parties, run for office, and organized protests and rallies. Khalistan supporters are also active in the Canadian Sikh community, where they have built a strong base of support.

The power of Khalistan supporters in Canadian politics is evident in the fact that they have been able to influence the policies of the Canadian government. For example, in 2018, Trudeau's government removed the term "Sikh extremism" from a report on the threat of terrorism in Canada. This move was seen as a concession to Khalistan supporters.

Khalistan supporters are also able to use their influence to pressure the Canadian government to take action on issues that are important to them. For example, in 2023, Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was shot dead in Canada. This accusation led to a diplomatic row between India and Canada.

Trudeau's mixed reelection prospects

The political landscape in Canada is complex and evolving. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been accused of having close ties with members of the Indo-Canadian community who are said to have had links with the Khalistan movement. However, it’s important to note that these are allegations and the extent of their truth is subject to debate.

As for Trudeau’s reelection chances, recent polls suggest a mixed picture. A poll from Ipsos indicated that nearly half of Canadians want a federal election in 2023. However, 54% of those polled said Trudeau should step down as the leader of the Liberal Party in 2023, though just 27% said they believe he’ll do so. Another poll suggested that Trudeau’s approval rating was at its lowest point since he was elected in 2015.

It’s also worth noting that the political dynamics can change rapidly, and many factors will influence the outcome of the next election. Therefore, it’s difficult to predict with certainty what Trudeau’s reelection chances are. It’s also unclear how the issue of Khalistan will impact the election.

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