Canada has intensified its accusations against the Indian government, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is orchestrating a broader campaign targeting Sikh activists and separatist leaders abroad. This comes amid a worsening diplomatic row, with Canada expelling six Indian diplomats. Canadian authorities claim to have uncovered evidence that these officials were involved in a concerted effort by India to intimidate, harass, and possibly orchestrate violence against Sikhs advocating for the Khalistan movement, a separatist cause seeking an independent Sikh homeland.
The tension has escalated since September 2023, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first publicly linked Indian agents to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Canadian Sikh separatist leader. Modi’s government has consistently denied the accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. New Delhi has expressed frustration, accusing Canada of failing to provide concrete evidence to support its claims and of harboring extremist Sikh groups that India views as threats to its national security.
In a broader context, the allegations reflect concerns about India’s transnational repression of Sikh separatists, not only in Canada but also in other Western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Sikh leaders and activists in these countries have accused the Modi government of using extrajudicial measures to suppress their movements, which India denies. The situation remains highly volatile, with both countries now at odds diplomatically, and India indicating it may take further retaliatory measures in response to what it perceives as Canada’s undue support for Sikh separatism.
This diplomatic clash comes at a time when both Canada and its allies, including the U.S., are keen to maintain strong ties with India to counter China’s growing influence, complicating the geopolitical dynamics even further.