Context: Over the past year, the diplomatic crisis between Canada and India has reached new lows, with the war of words, issuing travel adversaries, and the expulsion of diplomats. Recent developments have caused bilateral relations to hit rock bottom with threats of trade sanctions and talks of visa suspensions.
Relevance: GS2 (International Relations)
Practice question: discuss the ongoing diplomatic crisis between India and Canada and mention its impacts on the Indian diaspora residing in Canada. Suggest some sustainable measures to de-escalate and normalise relations. (250 words)
Canada’s accusations:
- Persons of interest:Canada has named five Indian diplomats, along with an Indian high commissioner, as persons of interest in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
- RCMP (Canada police report): The RCMP expressed a high level of suspicion towards these diplomats in the killing, along with a criminal network, i.e., the Bishnoi gang.
- Foreign influence: The Canadian government accuses India and its diplomats of intervening in Canada’s internal political affairs.
India’s response:
- Preposterous charges: India has called the murder charges baseless and accused the Canadian government of orchestrating the investigation for political gains for the vote bank of Khalistani separatists.
- Intimidation in the name of free speech: Canada provides a safe space for violent extremists and terrorists to intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in the name of free speech.
- Former Indian diplomats opinions: It’s just a Trudeau problem. They accused Trudeau of dragging the Indian High Commissioner into Canada’s vote bank politics for his political gains.
Five eyes view:
- Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance comprising the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, has extended its support to Canada in this diplomatic crisis.
- The US has suggested India and Canada ease the tensions through the method of dialogue while suggesting India take Canada’s charges seriously and cooperate for an investigation.
- The UK has expressed full confidence in the Canadian judicial process.
Path forward for India:
- India should carefully balance defending its diplomats along with maintaining its image in the international forums.
- India must organise an international campaign to ensure accountability from Canada, demanding either concrete proof and evidence or cessation of suspicions towards India and its diplomats.
Conclusion :
India should deal with a nuanced approach, considering long-term impacts both on its image and its diaspora residing in Canada. Any further “tit for tat” approaches between the two countries will result in serious consequences for people-to-people connections, hence the issue must be handled with great sensitivity.
