India's new High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has firmly rejected allegations linking Indian diplomats to homicide and extortion, labeling them as politically motivated. The allegations, previously made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have been a point of contention between the two nations.
In an interview with CTV News, Patnaik expressed his concerns about the security situation, stating that he found it strange to be under protection in Canada. He emphasized that such measures should not be necessary in a country like Canada. Patnaik described the allegations against Indian diplomats as "preposterous and absurd," stating that India is still waiting for evidence to be provided. He insisted that India never engages in extraterritorial actions.
Relations between India and Canada have been strained since 2023, when Trudeau publicly claimed "credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader. Nijjar, a vocal advocate for Khalistan movement, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. India has consistently denied the accusations, calling them "absurd". Following Trudeau's allegations, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, prompting a reciprocal expulsion from New Delhi.
Patnaik has stressed that the issue of Khalistan is a domestic challenge for Canada to address, not solely an Indian problem. He voiced concerns that the aggressive rhetoric of the Khalistan movement is deterring Indian businesspeople from investing in Canada due to perceptions of rising violence, extortion, and intimidation.
Despite the ongoing concerns, both India and Canada have taken steps to rebuild their relationship. India recently hosted Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, signaling a willingness to move forward. Anand and Indian counterpart S Jaishankar announced initiatives to restore the relationship. According to Patnaik, recent discussions between Ottawa and New Delhi have focused on the overall security situation, including the influence of Khalistani groups.
Patnaik credited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for playing a significant role in restoring normalcy in India-Canada relations. He acknowledged that while tensions have existed, the shared values of democracy, freedom of the press, and the rule of law between the two nations are too important to be undermined. Patnaik said security agencies from both countries are engaging in dialogue, including discussions between the RCMP and India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), and that both National Security Advisors have met.
