The Chhattisgarh

Tag: India – Canada tensions

  • ‘Everything’s On The Table…’: Canadian Foreign Minister Hints At Sanctions Against India As Ties Hit Rock Bottom | world news

    The diplomatic row between Canada and India has taken a turn for the worse, with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly hinting that sanctions against India are a possibility. When asked about potential sanctions, Joly said, “Everything is on the table.” This comes after Indian accusations that Canada is harboring Khalistani terrorists.

    Canadian Foreign Minister Joly said earlier today that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had gathered evidence in the India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing case, which was the basis for the decision to expel Indian diplomats. The Indian government was urged to support the ongoing investigation for the mutual benefit of both countries.

    Taking to both countries.” She made the statement in response to a post shared by Canada’s Foreign Policy page on

    The tensions began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of supporting criminal activities targeting Canadian citizens, including South Asian Canadians. Trudeau alleged that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in June last year. India has denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations as “absurd” and politically motivated.

    Diplomatic Expulsions

    Both countries have expelled diplomats in a tit-for-tat exchange. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert. India criticized the move, calling the accusations against its diplomats “ludicrous” and part of a broader political agenda by the Trudeau government.

    Trudeau’s Allegations

    Trudeau stated that information regarding the allegations has been shared with Five Eyes intelligence partners, including the United States. He further alleged that India’s government is working with organized crime groups in Canada, engaging in illegal activities like extortion and murder. “We have asked India to cooperate, but those requests have been refused,” Trudeau said.

    India’s Response

    India claims Canada has not provided any evidence to support the allegations. The Indian government has denied any involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and has criticized Trudeau’s accusations as politically motivated.

    What’s Next?

    As the situation unfolds, Joly’s statement leaves open the possibility of further actions, including sanctions, against India. The dispute adds to growing challenges for Trudeau, whose government has been facing sliding support ahead of elections in 2025. For now, the allegations and diplomatic friction are likely to continue as both nations dig in their heels.

  • ‘Need To Solve Real Issues’: Trudeau On His Brief Talk With PM Modi In Laos Amid Tensions Over Nijjar’s Death | world news

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos, nearly a year after Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Khalistani separatist. This brief exchange took place during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, on Thursday. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News), Trudeau described their interaction as a “brief exchange” but emphasized the need for ongoing work between the two nations.

    “I won’t go into details about what we talked about, but what I’ve said many times is that the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any Canadian government, and that’s what I’ ll stay focused on,” he told reporters during a press conference. Trudeau said that Canada must continue to strengthen its trade and people-to-people ties with India, “but there are real issues that we must address, and we will remain focused on those.”

    Breaking: Canada PM Justin Trudeau says had a “brief exchanged” with PM Modi in Laos

    Says, “Safety of Canadians & upholding rule of law fundamental responsibilities of any Canadian government”. Adds “real issues (with India) we need to solve”

    Source: CPAC pic.twitter.com/GSqFcSyUC1 — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 11, 2024

    The relationship between India and Canada has been under strain since last September when Trudeau alleged a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. India, which designated Nijjar as a terrorist. in 2020, vehemently rejected Trudeau’s claims, labeling them as “absurd” and “motivated.”

    Tensions have been exacerbated by India’s stance that Canada is harboring pro-Khalistani elements that operate with impunity. Trudeau acknowledged this concern, saying, “We are seeing troubling patterns of violence affecting Indo-Canadians right across the country over the past number of months, and this is an issue that I can assure you that we will continue to be very, very seized with.”

    Despite the tensions, Trudeau reaffirmed his position, insisting that national security agencies and law enforcement are “deeply engaged on this issue.” His comments follow statements from Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who, during a recent public inquiry into foreign interference, described relations with India as “tense” and “very difficult.” She noted that there remains a threat of further killings like Nijjar’s on Canadian soil and expressed her efforts to engage India in the investigation surrounding his death.

    The last meeting between Modi and Trudeau took place on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy in June, marking their first interaction since the Nijjar allegations surfaced.

  • The increasing tension between India and Canada is likely to affect bilateral economic relations.

    The shadow of increasing diplomatic tension between India and Canada is deepening on the economic relations between the two countries. Trade talks have come to a halt due to rising tensions regarding the free trade agreement between the two countries.

    According to the government’s Invest India portal, bilateral trade in goods between Canada and India stood at US $ 8.16 billion in the financial year 2022-23. Total exports from India to Canada were $4.11 billion while imports were $4.05 billion.

    Canada is the 18th largest foreign investor in India. A total of $3.3 billion was invested in India from Canada between April 2000 and March 2023. Canada’s share is only 0.5% of the total FDI in India. Canadian pension funds have invested US$55 billion in India.

    Just a few months before tensions escalated, the sixth round of Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment between India and Canada was held in Ottawa in May this year in which mutual Agreed on expanding business Was made.

    More than 600 Canadian companies do business in India and more than 1,000 companies are actively doing business in the Indian market. Indian companies in Canada are quite active in sectors like information technology, software, steel, natural resources and banking.

    Obviously, Indian companies doing business in Canada have made good investments in the economy there. Now the industry is in tension due to the increasing tension between the two countries.

    According to government data, the major items exported from India to Canada include gems, jewelery and precious stones, pharmaceutical products, readymade garments, light engineering goods, iron and steel articles, which are most affected by this diplomatic tension. Whereas India imports important goods like pulses, newsprint, wood pulp, asbestos, potash, iron scrap, copper, minerals and industrial chemicals from Canada.

    The total population of Indian immigrants in Canada is a little more than 4%. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, about 16 lakh people of Indian origin and 7 lakh NRIs live in Canada.