Tensions between Canada and India have risen sharply after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in an incident concerning Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader and the head of North America’s largest Sikh Gurdwara located in Surrey, Canada.
PM Trudeau took a firm stance in a recent address to the nation, indicating that such actions against Canadian citizens challenge Canada’s sovereignty and the nation’s rights to safeguard its inhabitants. This unfolding situation might have also influenced Canada’s decision to halt trade talks with India at the recent G20 summit.
In response, the Indian government has vehemently denied any role in the incident. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a statement calling the accusations by Prime Minister Trudeau “absurd and motivated”. As a further indication of strained ties, India has taken a decisive step by expelling a Canadian diplomat from the country.
It remains to be seen how these tensions will evolve and what further steps each nation will take in response to the unfolding situation. International observers are keeping a close watch, advocating for dialogue and understanding between the two nations.
