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By Yogesh Nagar, Student, BJMC, I Sem
The dispute between the two countries follows a September 18 announcement by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of murdering a prominent Sikh activist in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar (11 October 1977 – 18 June 2023) was a Canadian Sikh separatist leader involved with the Khalistan movement which calls for an independent Sikh state. He was shot dead outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023. Since his killing, Canada has been investigating the case and has accused India of carrying out the killing.
Later that month, Trudeau spoke in the House of Commons on what he stated were credible allegations of potential links to Indian government involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Najjar. Subsequently, diplomatic relations between the two nations further deteriorated, and each side announced the expulsion of a top diplomat. While officials from both India and Canada will try to resolve the diplomatic dispute, India’s government has no plans to impose curbs on imports or investments from Ottawa, said two senior government sources, who declined to be identified as they are not authorized to talk to media.
Canada on Thursday pulled out 41 diplomats from India and had earlier paused trade treaty talks with India. India imports potash, lentils, and energy products such as coal, coke and briquettes among other goods from Canada. India’s exports to Canada include consumer goods, garments, and engineering products such as auto parts, aircraft equipment and electronic items.
