Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has escalated tensions with India by accusing Indian diplomats of orchestrating criminal harassment and violence against Canadians, particularly targeting the South Asian community and Sikhs. This dispute traces back to last year when Trudeau suggested Indian involvement in the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. In response, Canada expelled six Indian officials, citing India’s refusal to lift their diplomatic immunity amid “violent incidents” targeting Sikhs. Denying any involvement, India retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats and criticized Canada for endangering its diplomatic personnel.
During a press conference, Trudeau criticized India for allegedly supporting criminal activities on Canadian soil, linking Indian diplomats to the transmission of sensitive information to criminal groups, which allegedly led to violent acts. He noted the Royal Mounted Canadian Police’s briefing that outlined these allegations. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly confirmed engagements with both Indian and Five Eyes intelligence-sharing allies’ officials, hinting that further actions, including sanctions, might be considered.
The Indian government dismissed Trudeau’s claims as baseless, condemning the alleged threats to Indian diplomats. Dialogue between Trudeau, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has so far proved unproductive, with Indian authorities persistently denying charges and criticizing Trudeau personally. The situation is further complicated by U.S. prosecutors accusing an Indian agent of plotting to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the U.S., reflecting broader international concerns about India’s alleged external actions.
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/india/trudeau-accuses-indian-diplomats-of-links-to-criminal-violence-11728948743481.html
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