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The ongoing diplomatic row between Canada and India, stemming from the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani militant, has reached a boiling point. Opposition leader Maxime Bernier has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of exploiting this tragedy to deflect attention from other controversial issues, adding fuel to the already volatile situation.
Bernier, the leader of the People's Party of Canada, has gone a step further, questioning Nijjar's Canadian citizenship and claiming he was a foreign terrorist who obtained it through fraudulent means. He argues that Nijjar, who was murdered in June 2023, repeatedly claimed asylum in Canada starting in 1997, using forged documents. Despite these fraudulent attempts, he was allowed to stay and was granted citizenship in 2007, according to Bernier. Bernier proposes that Canada posthumously revoke Nijjar's citizenship to rectify this alleged administrative error. He emphasizes that Nijjar should have been deported after his first fake asylum claim, a fate shared by countless others who attempt to enter Canada illegally.
This controversy has escalated into a full-fledged diplomatic crisis. Canada has accused Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, of involvement in Nijjar's murder. India has vehemently denied these allegations, branding them absurd and retaliating by expelling six Canadian diplomats and recalling its High Commissioner. Both countries have also expelled each other's diplomats. This tit-for-tat exchange highlights the deep mistrust and animosity that has permeated the relationship between these two nations.
At the heart of the dispute lies the Khalistan movement, a separatist movement advocating for an independent Sikh state in India. This movement, banned in India, has a strong presence in the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada. India accuses Canada of being lenient towards Khalistan supporters, while Canada maintains that it is a free and democratic nation where individuals have the right to express their political views peacefully. This fundamental difference in perspectives has contributed significantly to the current crisis.
The situation remains highly volatile, with both countries taking a hard line on the issue. The recent allegations and counter-allegations have further strained relations, raising concerns about the future of India-Canada ties. The international community watches with bated breath as this diplomatic standoff unfolds, hoping for a resolution that can preserve the vital interests of both nations and prevent further escalation.