India and Canada draw daggers

Tit for tat

• India on Wednesday told its citizens to avoid travelling to parts of Canada. This follows after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of a prominent Sikh separatist leader in Surrey in June, claims outrightly rejected by New Delhi as "absurd" and "motivated".
• "Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda," a foreign ministry statement said, advising citizens to "avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents".
• In a further blow to already frosty bilateral ties between Canada and India, the two countries have expelled a senior diplomat each after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of a prominent Sikh separatist leader in Surrey in June, claims outrightly rejected by New Delhi as "absurd" and "motivated".
• The Canadian government has also updated its travel advisory asking its citizens to avoid all travel to Jammu and Kashmir “due to the unpredictable security situation”.

Trudeau's speech

• "Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau said Monday in a speech to the House of Commons. Updates here.

A G-20 snub

• India's snub to Trudeau during the G-20 summit could be the immediate trigger for the current diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Unlike in the case of other global leaders, PM Modi did not post any "welcome note" for his Canadian counterpart after the latter landed in India.
• Also, Trudeau and Modi didn't hold a formal bilateral meeting at the summit, instead having a brief conversation on the sidelines. Trudeau claims to have brought up Nijjar's killing, while Modi criticised Canada for allegedly allowing Sikh secessionist groups to operate in the country, according to the MEA.

Who's Nijjar?

• Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.

Who's the Indian diplomat?

• Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly confirmed that she has ordered the expulsion of "a senior Indian diplomat".
• The expelled Indian official was identified as Pavan Kumar Rai, a 1997-batch IPS officer, who was handling, according to the Indian high commission, economic, coordination and community affairs.
• Joly called him India's external intelligence agency RAW's point man in Canada.

'A diversionary tactic'

• In response, India said Trudeau's unsubstantiated and absurd allegations were only meant to shift focus from Canada's support to Khalistan terrorists.

What Five Eyes say

• Trudeau was reported to have briefed US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron about Canada's action.
• In its first reaction to the controversy over Canada's allegations, Australia has called the reports "concerning" and said it has raised the issue with its "Indian counterparts".
• The US has said it was 'deeply concerned about allegations referenced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau'. White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners. It is critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice.”

Also read

Just what’s going on, Justin?
The Trudeau government’s allegation has no credibility and seems part of a concerted attempt to target India. It’s likely that Khalistani extremist Nijjar, who was involved in gang wars, fell victim to his own criminal associates, writes security expert Ajai Sahni.

Why Khalistani extremism thrives in Trudeau’s Canada
Justin Trudeau’s survival as PM hinges on support from the New Democratic Party, whose leader Jagmeet Singh backs a referendum on Khalistan and has attended pro-Khalistan rallies, writes TOI+ columnist Minhaz Merchant.