Trudeau’s time is up in Canadian politics. But will the influence of Khalistanis end in Canadian politics? This is a question whose answer every person following the politics of Punjab and Canada wants to know. Justin Trudeau, as PM, has not only neglected India-Canada relations but has also caused irreparable damage to them. In such a situation, will the new leader of Trudeau’s party Liberal Party, who will also become the PM of Canada, provide a balm of trust on the relations between the two countries?
Anti-India has been the USP of Trudeau family’s politics. Family because Trudeau’s father Pierre Trudeau was also on more or less the same path regarding India as Justin Trudeau is on today.
Experts also say that the period of decline in India-Canada relations started when Pierre became the Prime Minister of Canada.
In June 2023, when Indian fugitive and Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered by gunmen near Vancouver, Canada, Trudeau blamed India for this attack, that too in the Canadian Parliament, but to give strength to his claim. He had no proof. They kept paying lip service to the media and in international forums and the relations between the two countries kept falling into a downward spiral.
So will the relations between the two countries improve after becoming the new PM in Canada?
Aaj Tak asked this exact question to former diplomat Deepak Vohra. In response, Deepak Vohra says, “With great difficulty we had improved relations with Canada, Trudeau has ruined 50 years of hard work within a year. I think we will easily trust whatever government comes. “Will not do. It will take time to improve relations.”
“What will we do if the next government does not get majority and it also has to take support from Khalistanis?”
Deepak Vohra, former diplomat
Deepak Vohra said that Canada wants our market from us. His pension fund’s money is invested in our markets and he gets good returns from it. Canada doesn’t want our market to help us. Canada has nothing to give us but it considers itself a big player.
On the future of relations between the two countries, Deepak Vohra said, “If the new leader of Canada does a reality check that its entry into the G-7 has come with great difficulty and it is not a major economic power, then gradually the relations will be back on track.” Will come.”
On the question of whether India can heave a sigh of relief regarding Canada and Khalistanis, he said, “What will we do if the next government does not get majority and it also has to take support of Khalistanis?
Deepak Vohra ends his answer with a question. But this answer says that the happy days of India and Canada are still far away.
In fact, Canadian politics has been quite unstable recently. Sikhs play an important role in this unstable political scenario. In the general elections held in Canada in 2019, 18 Sikh MPs were elected to the 338-member House of Commons. However, the share of Sikhs in the total population of Canada is only 2 percent. But his dominance is strong. Punjabi is the third most spoken language in Canada after English and French.
The problem for India is that some of the Sikhs living in Canada keep raising the issue of demand for Khalistan. They also get support from other agencies including ISI. Not only this, in view of vote bank politics, Canadian political parties also support them.
Trudeau was on the same path and for votes he was running the government with the support of radical Sikh leader and New Democratic Party chief Jagmeet Singh. In fact, in the 2019 elections, Trudeau did not get an absolute majority and he had to take the support of Jagmeet Singh. But Jagmeet Singh fuels Khalistani agenda and keeps giving anti-India statements. Recently they were demanding a ban on Indian diplomats in Canada.
However, when Trudeau needed Jagmeet Singh’s support, he bluntly told the Liberal Party leader. Jagmeet Singh said that liberals do not deserve another chance. He has disappointed the people and is failing on issues like housing, groceries and health.
Khalistani elements in Canada are now keeping an eye on the new political equation emerging in this country.
Think tanks around the world are keeping an eye on India’s relations with Canada.
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington DC, sees the developments in Canada in a positive light for India. He wrote on X, “Trudeau’s resignation may provide an opportunity to stabilize the deteriorating relations between India and Canada.”
He said that in recent years, Canada is the only western country whose relations with India have continuously deteriorated.
Trudeau’s resignation may provide an opportunity to stabilize a free-falling India-Canada relationship. New Delhi has directly blamed Trudeau for the deep tensions plaguing bilateral relations. Canada is the only Western state that’s seen worsening ties w/India in recent years.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) January 6, 2025
Professor Harsh V Pant, Vice President of Studies and Foreign Policy Department of the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, is also not very optimistic about this political change in Canada.
Talking to BBC, he said that ‘when the new administration comes, it will make a new beginning. There is a new hope from the new Prime Minister and the new administration. But it is certain that the Liberal Party also has its own challenges.
On the question of action against Khalistani elements in Canada and ban on anti-India activities, Harsh V Pant says, “Elections are to be held in October. In the seats held by the Liberal Party, there are many leaders who come from the Sikh community. And those who have been supporting radical Sikh community behavior, I think it is too early to have such big expectations.
“In the seats of the Liberal Party, there are many leaders who come from the Sikh community and who have been supporting the radical Sikh community behaviour. So I think it would be too early to have such big expectations.”
Professor Harsh V Pant, Observer Research Foundation
He said that until new elections are held, this problem will continue for India. Because the Liberal Party will have to maintain its seats, whether Trudeau leads or someone else.
Former Foreign Secretary of India Kanwal Sibal clearly denies any kind of warmth in the relations between the two countries at present. He wrote on Twitter, “Trudeau has announced his resignation. It’s good. He damaged India-Canada relations with his irresponsible policies. But Canada’s Sikh extremist problem will not go away, because these elements have changed the political system of Canada. “It has made deep inroads.”
Which way will Canada-India relations turn? Will there be any action against Khalistanis in Canada or not? The answer to this will be found only through the political equations that arise.