Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a desperate man. He is under scrutiny for being inactive against Chinese interference in Canada’s elections, substantive proof of which exists. Ahead of Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission hearing, he once again latched on to India by accusing New Delhi of the gravest of crimes, including gun violence in his country, when it is actually the Chinese that are having a free run by turning Canada into a gateway to the West for narcotics. Plus they are believed to have infiltrated every level of government, rising right up to the top. Canada’s move to declare the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats “persons of interest” in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, including the plan to strip them of their diplomatic immunity and treat them as common criminals was the last straw that led India to recall them. But then to manage the narrative at home and give the impression of functioning from a position of strength, the Trudeau government said that it was they who had expelled the Indian diplomats. As if this was not enough, further threats were issued by Trudeau’s foreign minister, Mélanie Joly, that the option of expelling the remaining Indian diplomats was on the table. And all these threats to a fellow democracy, in fact the world’s largest. Thus, Canada is breaching all norms of civilised behaviour.
After making the dramatic charge against Sanjay Verma, the former Indian high commissioner to Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is yet to file charges against him or his colleagues, leading to speculation that the agencies do not have any proof that will stand in the court of law against the Indians. In fact Trudeau more or less acknowledged this to the Foreign Interference Commission when he said that there was intelligence, but may not be enough proof.
There is a consensus that the matter is essentially political. Apart from trying to downplay his rather obvious China connection, Trudeau is also trying to pacify his estranged ally, Jagmeet Singh who has withdrawn support and may pull down the government ahead of time, if Trudeau does not make a show of support to the Khalistan cause. But then just as best laid plans go awry, India refused to submit to Trudeau’s diktat and called his bluff by demanding actionable intelligence—thus landing Trudeau in major trouble. Ever since, the whole effort of Justin Trudeau has been directed towards painting India as a rogue force, on the assumption that a country led by a right-wing government will be easy prey for the left-liberal gang of western governments. This explains the phone calls he has been making to different world leaders and the open threats of sanctions that he has been issuing. But he may not be getting the results he wants. Except for mouthing platitudes the western governments have not done anything that would make India uncomfortable.
Amid this, the Canadian government has not been able to explain to its people why a man, Nijjar, who entered Canada on a fake passport and was a proven history-sheeter and a terrorist, has been turned into a martyr. Also, when there was no evidence, why the Canadians linked the case to the Indian government. Is it because of the pressures exerted by the Khalistanis who have made Canada their home and want India in the dock? Of course, Trudeau supports them because of vote bank considerations.
Questions should also be asked as to how an India-designated terrorist like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is advising Trudeau on handling India—as Pannun claimed in a television interview. Since when can such people with a distinct agenda become government advisers? The major flaw in Trudeau’s foreign policy is that it is completely driven by his own interests, specifically his vote bank considerations, and not the country’s interests. So an important relationship can be sacrificed if it helps Trudeau to return to power.
Also, the Trudeau government has painted a target in the back of Indians and Indian origin people living in Canada by giving a platform to Pannun, who has been questioning the loyalty of Indians in Canada and thus making them vulnerable to attacks by different Khalistani groups that are already leading violent demonstrations asking for the shutting down of Indian consulates across Canada.
The only silver lining amid this is that the Canadian public is waking up to Trudeau’s diversionary tactics. The elections in Canada may still be a year away, but his poor governance has tanked Trudeau’s popularity already. If he continues in the manner he is, it’s unlikely that he will be able to salvage the situation..