The Sikh Leader’s Death Causes Tensions Between Canada and India

Diplomatic tensions arose between Canada and India when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of the death of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite the alleged evidence from Canadian intelligence, India rejects all allegations. The dispute between the two nations carries considerable implications for their diplomatic relations.

Photo by Khashayar Kouchpeydeh on Unsplash

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a native of India, but a resident of Canada. He was a prominent figure in the Sikh community and advocated for the creation of an independent Sikh state in India. Because of his activism, Nijjar was already a target of several threats, but on 18 June 2023, he was shot dead just outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia. Nijjar's supporters believe the responsibility of his death lies with the Indian government as it had previously accused him of leading a separatist movement.

Prime Minister Trudeau raised concerns against Indian intelligence agencies, also demanding full cooperation in finding out the truth behind the murder. He stated that "any involvement of a foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty". However, Indian authorities stated that they reject all allegations.

The relations between Canada and India were already strained, but the recent diplomatic impasse has had an even bigger impact on relations between the two countries. Among other things, trade talks between Canada and India have been suspended and Canada's trade mission to India, scheduled for October, has been postponed. Moreover, the two countries have expelled each other's top diplomats, only escalating the diplomatic discord. With a significant Indian diaspora of about 1.4 million people in Canada, the dispute between the two nations will have further consequences.

Amid these diplomatic tensions, it is important to comprehend the bigger picture of Sikh separatism, as well as India's perspective in the matter. Extremist Sikh tendencies pose a threat to Canada's national security according to India. However, in Punjab, where Sikh identity is central, there is little support for any secession since the violent movement was suppressed years ago.

There was also a new proposal for a new homeland for the Sikhs called Khalistan. However, this puts India's 25 million Sikhs in a dilemma since it separates the Sikhs from their families through the substantial diaspora. Although the Bharatiya Janata Party already had a proposition of making the Sikhs part of the Hindu family, this proposal was only seen as an opportunity for eroding the Sikhs' identity.

Moreover, a Khalistan movement seems unlikely in Punjab as the Sikhs are mostly dissatisfied with the Indian government's nationalist agenda. The latter wants to turn India into a Hindu state. The Sikhs are thus not fighting for their own country, but rather against the establishment of a full Hindu state in the area where they reside.

References

Nws, V. (2023, September 21). Diplomatieke spanningen tussen India en Canada groeien: India gaat geen visa meer uitreiken. vrtnws.be. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/09/21/diplomatieke-spanningen-groeien-india-reikt-geen-visa-meer-uit/

Nws, V. (2023a, September 19). Canadese premier Trudeau beschuldigt India van moord op Canadese sikh-leider, India ontkent. vrtnws.be. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/09/18/trudeau-india/

Raj, S., Mashal, M., & Kumar, H. (2023, September 29). Sikh separatism is a nonissue in India, except as a political boogeyman. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/world/asia/india-punjab-separatism.html