How Canada Became Hotbed Of Khalistani Movement, Ignoring India's Appeal For Action Over Years

The already strained relationship between India and Canada hit a new low as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of killing notorious Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in British Columbia.

Trudeau during an emergency session of the parliament on Monday claimed that his government had credible evidence linking the murder of Nijjar to Indian agents. However, Canada's allegations were strongly rejected by the Indian government which characterised the allegations as absurd and motivated. India also highlighted the continued inaction of the Canadian government on the Khalistani terrorists and extremists who continue to threaten its sovereignty in a statement put out by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Also Read: Canada Alleges Indian Involvement In Killing Of Khalistani Terrorist, Expels Top Indian Diplomat

Similar charges were traded by both sides in the two leader’s interaction on the sidelines of the G20 summit 2023, where PM Modi scolded Trudeau over Canada providing continued shelter to anti-India activities. Even then, Trudeau refused to acknowledge the concerns of India, continuing the historical stance of the North American country on a movement which has a bloody history in India.

But why, once a friendly country, became a hotspot of anti-Indian activities? Why has Canada never acted upon India’s requests to take measures against Khalistani terrorists?

The answer to this question remains itched in the annals of history. The first knot in ties came just after India's Pokhran Nuclear test in 1974, when Canada, who provided CANDU reactors, accused India of using them for developing nuclear weapons. The incident also prompted a sharp reaction from the global community and left India at loggerheads with the West.

Interestingly, Pierre Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau, was the person at the helm at that time. The timing of the Pokhran Test coincided with the rise of the Khalistan movement triggering an influx of Khalistan supporters in Canada who cried foul of being politically persecuted.

As the number of Khalistan terrorists and sympathisers swelled, so did the anti-India activities. The first incident of Canada's lacklustre attitude came in 1982 when India asked Canada for the extradition of a Khalistani terrorist, Talwindar Parmar, who was wanted in the killing of police officers in India. The request was refused by the Canadian government who made a preposterous excuse.

Also Read: India Expels Canadian Envoy After Allegations Over Khalistani Terrorist's Death, Asks To Leave Country In Five Days | Video

Talwinder Parmar, the leader of the Khalistani terrorist group known as Babbar Khalsa, later carried out the mid-air bombing of Air India Flight Kanishka in 1985. This tragic incident occurred off the coast of Ireland and resulted in the loss of all 329 lives on board.

Later it was revealed that Canadian agencies were aware of the plans of Khalistani terrorists and even witnessed them testing the bomb, days before the actual bombing.

The incident which remains the biggest terrorist attack in Canadian history, sparked strong outrage from India, as well as the global community while putting up a big question,' Who was responsible for saving Talwinder Parmar in the first place? and Why no action was taken against the terrorists when there were prior threat inputs.

Although Parmar was later killed by police in 1992, when he was trying to enter Punjab from Pakistan, the Khalistan movement remained intact on Canadian soil.

India again tried to warn Canada in 2010, when then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his counterpart Stephen Harper on the margins of the G20 summit in Toronto and expressed New Delhi’s frustration over Canada allowing the Khalistan movement to proliferate.

Nonetheless, the real resurgence took place following Justin Trudeau's election victory in the 2015 Canadian federal elections. Pro-Khalistan organisations threw their support behind the Liberal Party in key regions with a high concentration of seats, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver.

Khalistan Supporters (Representational Image)

Vote-bank politics has become the Achilles heel of the generational leader. After India, Canada is home to the largest population of Sikhs in the world. Sikhs account for 2.1 per cent of Canada’s population according to the Canadian census undertaken in 2021. They are also the country’s fastest-growing religious group, making them a preferable vote-bank for the political parties.

Despite being aware of the prominence of the Khalistan issue in straining the Indo-Canadian bilateral relationship, he has never shown the will to take the required action. Even incidents such as referendums against the Indian state and open bounty on the heads of diplomats could not garner any impactful action. The severity led Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar to even make a scathing remark.