Trudeau accuses Indian diplomats of links to criminal violence

(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian diplomats of supporting a pattern of criminal harassment and violence against Canadians, escalating a dispute that began last year when he suspected that Indian agents were involved in the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist in British Columbia were involved.

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Earlier on Monday, Canada expelled six officials after saying India had refused to waive their diplomatic immunity over questions about what Foreign Minister Melanie Joly called “a series of violent incidents” against Canada’s South Asian community, particularly Sikhs became. India denied involvement, blamed Canada and expelled six of its senior diplomats.

At a press conference in Ottawa, Trudeau explained the essence of the Canadian government’s lawsuit against India. Hours earlier, on the morning of Canada’s Thanksgiving holiday, the Royal Mounted Canadian Police held an extraordinary briefing to inform the public of the new allegations against Indian government agents.

“It is clear that the Indian government made a fundamental mistake when it thought it could support criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil, whether it be murder, extortion or other acts of violence,” Trudeau said.

The growing rift between Canada and India could impact trade, immigration and other ties between the two countries, particularly if the dispute leads to sanctions or other retaliatory measures. Asked whether sanctions or other measures beyond expelling officials would be considered, Joly said: “Everything is on the table.”

Trudeau and Joly said they had been in contact with their Indian counterparts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Joly added she is also in contact with the foreign ministers of Canada’s Five Eyes allies that share intelligence: the U.S., Britain, Australia and New Zealand. In a separate case, U.S. prosecutors have accused an Indian government agent of masterminding a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist and U.S. citizen on American soil.

Trudeau said Canadian officials and agencies tried to work with the Indian government, but their response was to “deny, obscure and attack me personally and the integrity of the Canadian government.”

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Joly said the “sitting diplomats” were involved in violence that increased after Trudeau claimed that India may have been involved in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an activist in the movement for an independent state for Sikhs called Khalistan the Punjab region. India considered him a terrorist.

Canadian officials said they would continue to support business ties in India, even as they called for respect for the country’s laws.

“Canada stands steadfastly with its companies,” the country’s export promotion, international trade and economic development minister said in a post on X. “We will work closely with all Canadian companies working with India to ensure these important Economic relations remain strong.”

Trade between Canada and India was worth $8.4 billion in India’s fiscal year that ended in March, with Canada a major supplier of potash, a fertilizer important to India’s agricultural sector, as well as pulses, timber and mining products to India is. India supplies Canada with medicines, gems and jewelry, textiles and machinery. With an estimated 427,000 Indian students studying there, it is also a significant source of foreign students to Canada.

After Trudeau first accused the Modi government of involvement in the Nijjar murder last year, visas for Indian students to Canada were temporarily suspended.

Still, the trade relationship between the two nations is only a fraction of that between India and the US, which was $119.7 billion in the last fiscal year. Canadian investment accounted for less than 1% of total foreign direct investment in India.

Indian government officials in Ottawa and Vancouver did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. On Monday, India rejected Canada’s claims, saying they were politically motivated by Trudeau and accusing his government of baselessly targeting Indian officials and endangering their security.

“We have no confidence in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring their security,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

– With support from Ruchi Bhatia.

(Updates with details on Canada-India trade starting in the ninth paragraph)

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