Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of plotting a murder on Canadian soil, leading to strained relations between the two countries. However, when the first arrests were made in the killing of Sikh nationalist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, there was no concrete evidence provided to support Trudeau’s claim. While the suspects were linked to an Indian criminal gang, this does not rule out the potential involvement of the Indian government, as agencies like RAW have been known to utilize criminal networks for operations in South Asia.
The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken a hardline stance on security threats and national defense, with Modi touting his government’s ability to eliminate enemies. Critics have accused him of authoritarianism, and right-wing supporters celebrated the killing of Nijjar in Canada as a show of strength. In contrast, Trudeau had been facing criticism for perceived weakness in responding to Chinese interference activities in Canada, and the accusations against India were seen as a way to counter this narrative.
The three Indian men arrested for Nijjar’s murder were affiliated with a gang led by Lawrence Bishnoi, who has a history of violent crimes and connections to criminal activities in India and possibly Canada. Bishnoi has shown power and influence even from behind bars, aligning himself with nationalist sentiments and opposing separatist movements like Khalistan. The Indian government has accused Canada of not doing enough to crack down on Sikh extremist elements operating within its borders.
Analysts suggest that India’s intelligence agency RAW may have used criminal gangs to carry out operations with deniability, both domestically and internationally. While evidence in the American-Canadian assassination plot was more concrete, Canada has not publicly disclosed any evidence supporting Trudeau’s claims against India, leading to a standoff between the two nations. Indian officials have aggressively denied involvement and assert their cooperation with investigations.
The Indian government’s response to Trudeau’s accusations has been confrontational, with the expulsion of Canadian diplomats and accusations of fomenting separatist sentiments in Canada. Videos of Trudeau at events with pro-Khalistan chants have fueled this narrative, leading to a diplomatic rebuke from India. While the case remains unresolved and the specifics of India’s involvement unclear, the situation highlights the complex dynamics between the two countries and the challenges of managing transnational security threats.
