Amidst strained relations with India, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is positioning himself as a champion for Khalistanis, which has further soured ties between the two countries.
During a Khalsa Day event on Sunday, where pro-Khalistan sentiments were vocalized, Trudeau pledged to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the nearly 800 thousand Canadians of Sikh heritage, stating that his government would stand against discrimination and hatred directed at the Sikh community.
This declaration comes at a time when Khalistanis in Canada have targeted the Indian High Commission and posed threats to Indian diplomats, exacerbating diplomatic tensions.
Last year, the Canadian government accused India of involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen, terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Surrey. India vehemently rejected this accusation, accusing Trudeau of exploiting the issue for political gain.
Sikh Canadians constitute 1.9% of Canada’s population and hold significant electoral influence in several key constituencies.
Trudeau’s reluctance to address Indian concerns regarding potential terrorist financing by supporters of an independent Sikh state stems from fears of losing Sikh votes to Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, according to Trudeau’s former advisor, Omar Aziz.
Despite Canada retracting its aggressive stance on the issue, Trudeau continues to signal to Khalistanis in Canada that they have leeway to conduct anti-India activities on Canadian soil. His participation in the Khalsa Day event, despite the presence of pro-Khalistan elements, underscores this gesture.
Trudeau’s attendance at an event featuring posters blaming Indian political leaders for Nijjar’s killing underscores his efforts to secure the Sikh vote, a move unprecedented in the context of international relations, highlighting the lengths to which Trudeau is willing to go for political support.
