New Delhi: In the midst of a simmering diplomatic standoff between India and Canada, seasoned Congress Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, expressed disappointment over recent developments. He emphasized that there is no credible evidence linking any Indian government entity to the ongoing controversy. This statement comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in India-Canada relations, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion that the Indian government was involved in the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Tharoor voiced his concerns, noting a concerning trend wherein immigrants to Canada, who have acquired Canadian citizenship, seem to be increasingly focused on activities detrimental to their countries of origin. He described this as a “very dangerous development” and urged Canada to introspect its approach towards such individuals. He also highlighted that, to the best of his knowledge, there is no substantiated proof implicating any Indian government body in the incident.
“In any case, there is, as far as I’m aware, no evidence that any Indian government body had anything to do with it because we know that, unfortunately, this fringe terrorist group has a number of factions and they have been killing various members including one today,” Tharoor stated.
The seasoned parliamentarian expressed his disappointment, citing that many Indians are increasingly frustrated by individuals who, if not directly involved in acts of terrorism, are openly fomenting violence against their home country. He underscored the value of the India-Canada relationship, citing significant trade ties, a substantial Indian diaspora of 1.7 million in a nation of 40 million, and a sizable Indian student population. Despite expressing concerns to Canadian authorities at various levels, Tharoor lamented the Canadian Prime Minister’s decision to publicly accuse the Indian government of complicity in a murder without tangible evidence.
“It really looks like it’s doubling down on pandering to a certain political element in that country. We know the government is dependent upon certain support. And perhaps this is why they needed to do that. Elections are also coming up very soon. So, for all of these reasons, Canadian politics has led to a situation where a very valued relationship between two countries has been thrown into jeopardy, and I am really surprised Canadians would do that,” Tharoor expressed.
Regarding the recent expulsions of diplomats in both countries, Tharoor described it as a classic case of tit-for-tat. He noted that India’s actions are in response to Canada’s earlier expulsion of an Indian diplomat. He urged for a more comprehensive explanation from the Canadian side and questioned the allowance of Canadian citizens to behave in a manner that threatens the sovereignty and interests of a friendly nation.
The incident in question involves the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated as a terrorist in India. Nijjar met his end outside a Gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. Trudeau’s allegations of Indian government involvement were swiftly rejected by India’s Ministry of External Affairs as “absurd and motivated.”
In a rapidly evolving diplomatic spat, the India-Canada relationship hangs in the balance, with both nations closely monitoring developments in hopes of preserving their longstanding rapport.