Relations With India Take The Back Seat As Trudeau Attends Pro-Khalistani Event
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2024-04-30 07:41:50
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is up to his antics again. He attended a pro-Khalistani event on April 29 in Toronto on the occasion of Khalsa Day. There is nothing wrong in attending an event that celebrates a prominent day for the Sikh community (who are Canadian citizens) residing in Canada. But when 'Modi Wanted' posters are displayed at the event and the gathering shouts pro-Khalistani and anti-India slogans, the issue has wider ramifications. There was even a huge banner at the venue that 'identified' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar as Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killers. It cannot be believed that Trudeau was not aware how things will unfold at the event. Were his security agencies, which were quick to dig up 'credible allegations' against India's alleged involvement in Nijjars killing, not have any inclination what the gathering would be up to in the presence of their prime minister?
That Trudeau chose to attend the event despite this proves India's allegations that Trudeau is playing with fire by pandering to Sikh separatism for 'vote bank politics' as this leads to violence against Indian diplomats and other Indians (who are also Canadian citizens) in Canada. It also impacts India-Canada relations which are already at a historic low after the unsubstantiated allegations Trudeau made against India over Nijjar's killing.
India lodged a strong protest over Trudeau's attendance at the event with the external affairs ministry summoning the Canadian deputy high commissioner. At the event Trudeau vowed to protect the rights and freedoms of Sikhs. He cannot be faulted for that but Trudeau has to recognize that when the 'rights and freedoms' he talks about clash with the sovereignty of a friendly nation, it is a sensitive trade-off. Trudeau has to choose whether he can let relations with India go to a point of no return just because he wants to appease a section of his voters or whether he should rein in these miscreants and mend relations with India.
