Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently acknowledged the presence of Khalistani supporters within Canada, emphasizing that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. He also noted that there are Hindu supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Canada, who similarly do not represent the entirety of the Hindu community in the country. Trudeau’s statements came during Diwali celebrations at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, marking an apparent recognition of India’s concerns about pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.
This acknowledgment aligns with India’s longstanding position that Canada has been lenient towards Khalistani groups. Tensions between the two countries have been high since Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani activist and a wanted terrorist by the Indian government, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. India dismissed Trudeau’s accusations as “absurd” and “baseless,” citing a lack of evidence provided by Canada.
Relations further soured in October 2024, when Canada labeled Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a “person of interest” in its probe into Nijjar’s murder. India responded by recalling its High Commissioner from Ottawa and expelling six Canadian diplomats. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has maintained that Canada has not substantiated its claims against India and has accused Trudeau of using vote-bank politics to avoid addressing separatist activities on Canadian soil.
