India has summoned Canada’s envoy in New Delhi following a large Sikh rally in Toronto attended by all three major federal party leaders. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh all participated in the Khalsa Day rally, which commemorates the Sikh faith. Some participants at the rally chanted and carried banners with slogans calling for a separate state from India known as Khalistan. India formally summoned Canada’s deputy high commissioner on Monday, expressing concern over what it called “disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event.”
India’s foreign ministry did not specify the specific issues it had with the rally but noted displays of separatism, accusing Canada of tolerating extremism and violence. The relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa has been strained for decades, with tensions escalating last year when Trudeau accused India of playing a role in the slaying of a Canadian Sikh leader. Despite India’s objections, Canada maintains that it will not infringe on free speech, even if Sikh individuals call for the establishment of Khalistan, a stance that India says violates its constitution.
India has pointed out instances of people in Canada openly glorifying individuals linked to the 1985 bombing of an Air India plane, which resulted in the deaths of many Canadian citizens. Human rights groups have criticized India’s Hindu nationalist government for its persecution of minorities in recent years. In response to India’s rebuke, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mélanie Joly, did not immediately comment on the situation. Joly has previously expressed a desire to address the diplomatic rift with India in a private manner.
The tensions between India and Canada come against a backdrop of longstanding disputes over issues related to Sikhs and separatism. The Sikh community in Canada has been vocal about their desire for self-determination, with some advocating for the establishment of Khalistan as a separate Sikh state. While Canada has historically been home to a large Sikh population, India has raised concerns about Canadian policies that it perceives as supporting separatist movements.
The controversy surrounding the Sikh rally in Toronto underscores the complexities of the relationship between India and Canada. Both countries have divergent views on issues related to free speech, separatism, and the rights of minority communities. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how both governments will address the underlying tensions and work towards finding common ground on these sensitive matters. The diplomatic rift serves as a reminder of the need for open and respectful dialogue between nations to address complex and longstanding disputes.
