Canada's shock allegation, India's firm denial and diplomatic war: 10-point recap | India Today:
September 20, 2023 - "Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a[n accused] Khalistani terrorist, was shot dead in Canada’s Surrey in June. Three months after the incident, ... [on] Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the country's parliament that security agencies are probing 'credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India' to Nijjar’s killing on Canadian soil. Trudeau added that he had raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi earlier this month. India strongly denied Trudeau's claims....
"After Justin Trudeau’s remark in Canada's House of Commons, the country's foreign minister Melanie Joly announced the expulsion of a senior diplomat posted at India's High Commission there. The Canadian foreign ministry identified the diplomat as the 'head of India's foreign intelligence agency in Canada'. In a retaliatory move, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat posted in India....
"As diplomatic relations between the two nations soured, Canada on Tuesday issued an advisory for its nationals in India..... The advisory suggested citizens living in India to 'think about leaving the country if it is safe to do so'. Hours later, India on Wednesday issued an advisory for its nationals and students living in Canada. The advisory urged them to 'exercise utmost caution' in view of 'growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and violence in Canada'. The advisory cited threats to 'Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda' and advised Indian nations to avoid travelling to regions which have witnessed such incidents.
"A day after his initial remark sparked a diplomatic row, Justin Trudeau said that he was not looking to 'provoke' India or 'escalate' tensions. 'We want to work with the government of India' ... Justin Trudeau said. Meanwhile, it was reported that Canada wanted its Five Eye allies to come together and condemn India. The Five Eyes intelligence alliance comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, the ally nations were not keen on taking sides in what has now turned into a diplomatic feud between India and Canada. The US, Australia, and the UK have said that the claims should be thoroughly probed."
Read more: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-canada-diplomatic-war-khalistani-terrorist-killing-allegations-all-we-know-2438229-2023-09-20
India Threatens Canada Amid Spat Over Nijjar Killing; Wants 40 Diplomats Kicked Out | Hindustan Times | October 3, 2023:
Does Trudeau have what it takes to wage diplomatic war with India? | National Post | Michael Higgins:
September 21, 2023 - "Foreign affairs are a minefield for Justin Trudeau but surely no one expected him to trigger an explosive diplomatic war with India. This is now a defining moment for the prime minister.... If India sent a hit squad to Canada to kill a Canadian then Trudeau must marshal all resources — political, diplomatic, and economic — to punish such a grave breach of national sovereignty. India should be subject to the full weight of Canadian and international sanctions so it understands the world will not tolerate such gross criminal behaviour.
"But for that to happen the prime minister must put forward a convincing case to Canadians and the world that clearly demonstrates India’s guilt. It is not enough to say security agencies are 'actively pursuing credible allegations' that Indian government agents killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar.... If the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or the RCMP has credible evidence then they should come forward. Because the stakes are very high. Not only is the allegation a very serious one, but the ramifications will be significant....
"Despite the sensational nature of the charge, the Canadian government appears to be going to great lengths to stress it is only an accusation. In a press conference Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly was at pains to talk about 'the allegations' and that India 'may have been involved' and how 'if proved true' the killing would be troublesome. It was as if Joly was not convinced herself.
"And in light of the allegation, the prime minister’s trip to India recently can be viewed ... as totally inexplicable. If Trudeau had always planned during the trip to confront Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lodge a protest about the killing, why did he take his son along instead of a coterie of high-profile ministers to underscore the seriousness of the matter? And if Trudeau skulking in his hotel room instead of attending Modi’s official dinner was intended as some form of statesman-like demonstration over the murder it was a spectacular failure.
"It has been three months since the murder of Nijjar and the Liberal government is only now talking of 'credible allegations.' It would have been better to keep concerns under wraps until such time as facts were available to support such an explosive accusation. Just because the Globe and Mail published a story about how India’s involvement was being investigated in the killing, doesn’t mean the Liberals had to respond, especially if they were not going to present a more persuasive case."
No comments:
Post a Comment