CANADA, under Prime Minister Mr. JustinTrudeau, is walking a path of disaster by repeatedly missing signals from India. Things have now crossed the limits of absurdity as sheer ugliness is driving the Trudeau government’s behaviour towards the Hindu community in the country. The attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, a hotbed of pro-Khalistani activities, has triggered another round of fight between the governments of India and Canada with Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi terming the latest incident as a “cowardly attempt of intimidation”. There is now a fundamental disconnect of Mr. Trudeau with what India views and seeks and New Delhi has no option remaining than to shut down relations with Canada at all levels totally. The clash between pro-Khalistani elements and Hindus in Brampton shows how Mr. Trudeau has given political space to extremist forces in the country. Involvement of police personnel in backing pro-Khalistani elements has also come to the fore in the latest incident which again exposes the support the Sikh separatist forces are getting from the ruling dispensation. Despite criticism from opposition members and also some of his own party members, Mr. Trudeau continues to walk a dangerous path to fulfill his electoral agenda.

 

The clashes have come on the back of the absurd and ridiculous allegations of involvement of India’s Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah in ordering a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada. New Delhi has trashed these statements made by Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. David Morrison while warning of serious consequences. Now, the warning by Prime Minister Mr. Modi to the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law must be taken up with some earnest steps to make Ottawa realise that New Delhi means business. Canada’s allegations against Indian diplomats and now Mr. Shah have come at a time when Mr. Trudeau appears to be battling anti-incumbency with elections barely a year away. A new poll has revealed that only 28% overall think Mr. Trudeau deserves re-election and only 26% would vote for the Liberals which has forced the ruling party to focus on pro-Khalistan members among the 7,70,000 Sikh diaspora living in Canada. Myopic electoral gains have forced Mr. Trudeau to deliberately miss all signals from New Delhi regarding Indian concerns over pro-Khalistani elements in Canada.

 

By granting political space to these extremists and allowing their anti-India tirade and violent activities as mere activism and dissent protected by free speech, Canada is stretching things to a point of no return. The dirty allegations against Indian diplomats and intelligence agents of their involvement in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a listed terrorist, are part of whipping up frenzy among the pro-Khalistan forces. Despite repeated demands, Canada has failed to provide any substantial proof of involvement of Indian officials in the killing of Nijjar. It is a reason enough for India to dial the top international agencies and expose Canada’s designs of starting a war minus weapons against India. New Delhi must leverage its relations with the United States and the countries which are part of the Five Eyes surveillance grouping to grill Canada on the unsubstantiated and utterly ridiculous charges against India. It is time New Delhi summoned all its dexterous diplomatic strategies for shaping a solid and powerful response that Ottawa should remember for years to come. The gallery show by Mr. Trudeau needs a definite closure now