Shruti Suman
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian delegation find themselves stranded in New Delhi due to technical issues with their aircraft. This unfortunate turn of events marks the end of a trip that had already been marred by criticism from the Indian government.
Trudeau, accompanied by government officials and journalists, had planned to depart India on Sunday night after attending the Group of 20 leaders’ summit. However, the exact timeline and method of their departure from the country remain uncertain. A statement from Trudeau’s office stated, “These issues cannot be resolved overnight, and our delegation will remain in India until alternative arrangements are made.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concerns about Canada allegedly allowing Sikh secessionist groups to operate within its borders. Following a sideline conversation between the two leaders, India’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying, “PM Modi conveyed strong concerns about the ongoing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.” The ministry further highlighted the connections of these forces with organized crime, drug syndicates, and human trafficking, urging both countries to collaborate in addressing these threats.
Relations between Canada and India have been strained, with no formal bilateral meeting between Trudeau and PM Modi during the summit. However, in their brief conversation, they discussed issues related to foreign interference and the importance of upholding the rule of law, as per Trudeau.
In Canada, separatist groups advocating for a Sikh homeland have organized a referendum, asking the diaspora if regions in India where Sikhs are the majority should gain independence. India viewed a June protest outside its High Commission in Ottawa as an “attack” and launched an investigation through its anti-terror agency.
Recently, Canada initiated a public inquiry into foreign interference in its national elections, focusing on countries like China, Russia, and other state and non-state actors. Trudeau’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, has highlighted India as a significant source of foreign meddling in Canada.
Indian officials have long harbored suspicions that Canada has been too tolerant of Sikh separatists seeking an independent Punjab in northwestern India. Trudeau acknowledged that the issues surrounding Punjab separatists in Canada and Canadian concerns about Indian interference have been discussed in his conversations with PM Modi over the years.
Trudeau emphasized Canada’s commitment to defending freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and peaceful protest while simultaneously opposing violence and hatred. He emphasized that the actions of a few individuals should not be taken as representative of the entire community or Canada as a whole.
