Justin's Khalistani politics sank Indo-Canadian ties

The Canadian government under Justin Trudeau's leadership that was guided by his vote bank politics and patronisation of extremists saw Ottawa's relations with New Delhi sink to an all-time low during his tenure.

Trudeau resigned as Canada's PM on Monday after months of crisis.

Tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa have been simmering since Trudeau's September 2023 allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was shot outside a Sikh temple in Canada.


New Delhi had dismissed the allegation as "absurd", emphasising that Nijjar was a designated terrorist by India's NIA.

ET had earlier reported how Trudeau was under pressure from his coalition partner and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to take a tough stand against India in support of Khalistani extremists. Jagmeet Singh has been the favourite politician of Sikh extremists operating out of Canada as their ties with the outgoing PM are decades old, experts on Canadian politics told ET.

Trudeau's claims that India sponsors criminal activities drew sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. In the subsequent fallout, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its envoy to Ottawa after Canada attempted to question Indian officials as "persons of interest" in the Nijjar case.

Pro-Khalistan activities in Canada, including an attack on a Hindu temple near Toronto, further inflamed relations.

Even if Conservative Party returns to power, its leader and next PM may not find it easy to navigate the world of Sikh extremists who influence local politics in a big way.