Dragging the Indian High Commissioner into Canada’s messy vote bank politics is beyond preposterous and had to be called out by India’s MEA in a detailed note, says Ajay Bisaria, one of India’s finest diplomats and a former high Commissioner to Canada.
The detailed note he refers to is the 500 word press release issued by the ministry of external affairs on Monday, in response to what it described as a “diplomatic note” received from Ottawa over the weekend which insisted Canada had evidence linking six Indian diplomats, including High commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, to the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside his home in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.
“Canada essentially expelled six Indian diplomats on 14 October, including High Commissioner SK Verma, by declaring them ‘persons of interest’ in a domestic investigation, and then asking them to leave when their immunity was not waived,” says Bisaria.
India responded by ‘withdrawing’ its diplomats and expelling an equal number of Canadian diplomats. Five of them have been given five days to leave. The sixth is counted as the cancellation of the appointment of Canada’s designated High Commissioner who was to join in New Delhi shortly, he said.
“With big targets painted on their backs and their security compromised for a while, the diplomats were in any case unable to function, and their continuing in Canada had become untenable,” he adds.
“This is a needless escalation by Trudeau’s government of an already vexed diplomatic situation,” says Bisaria. “Canada has gratuitously drawn in Indian diplomats into an internal political matter, to provide fodder and justification to its commission on foreign interference in elections, which itself began as a political tool to allay criticism about the current government overlooking Chinese interference in Canadian politics.”
Rejecting Canadian claims that it has evidence of Indian officials reporting on Khalistani activist immigrants and of a nexus between organised crime (Bishnoi gang) and the government of India, Bisaria said India has “neither has the intent nor the capacity to shape Canadian politics and elections in its favour.”
In democracies, in Canada as in India, this is the responsibility of the politicians and the people, and Indian diplomats, including the current HC, have been constructively promoting bilateral relations and professionally troubleshooting irritants.
However, for now, The Canadian government will not walk back this absurd measure of pronouncing diplomats with immunity as ‘persons of interest’ before completing an investigation,” said Bisaria.
“Such a move is unheard of in modern diplomatic practice. At a time when geopolitical interests are aligning with similar views on the China factor, it is a pity that Canada’s political leaders have chosen to sabotage bilateral ties for short term political expediency. This kind of scenario plays out between hostile powers, not between friendly democracies,” he added.
Elections in Canada are due in September 2025, and the Liberals with or without Trudeau are expected to lose. This problem is likely to linger on till then, with political relations in freeze and low level diplomatic representation, he said.
“The hope is that the crisis does not escalate further, leading to bleak scenarios, like severing diplomatic relations . On India’s part, it has been treating this as a ‘Trudeau problem’ rather than a ‘Canada problem,’” adds Bisaria.
However, under the current circumstances, this political and diplomatic crisis is unlikely to affect business or trade, he said, although visas and consular services are likely to be impacted in the short term. Some solid quiet diplomacy is required to stop the crisis spiralling further out of control.
He then referred to a statement by Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, on Monday.
“I understand the effects today’s events may have on Canadians doing business or investing in India, and the uncertainty that some may be feeling at this time,” says the minister.
“I want to reassure our business community that our government remains fully committed to supporting the well-established commercial ties between Canada and India. Our Trade Commissioner Service will continue to assist and provide resources to Canadian companies operating in India,” she adds.
“Let me be clear: Canada stands firmly by its businesses. We will work closely with all Canadian enterprises engaged with India to ensure these important economic connections remain strong.
“However we must consider our economic interests with the need to protect Canadians and uphold the rule of law…The Government of Canada remains open to a dialogue with India and we look forward to continuing our valued relationship,” she concludes.
