Why political tensions between Canada and India are rapidly escalating

Ties between the two countries have plunged to their lowest point in years after Prime Minister Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil.

India called the allegations “absurd” and this set off an international tit-for-tat, with each country expelling a diplomat and India suspending visa services for Canadians.

Video Transcript

- Political tensions between Canada and India are rapidly escalating. A Canadian official admitted that surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada led to the allegations surrounding the killing of a Sikh leader in BC. The official said that some of this intel was provided by a major ally and member of Five Eyes, the intel-sharing alliance which includes US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

The statement was made to CBC within a few hours of India suspending visa services for Canadian citizens and asking Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff. Ties between the two countries are at the lowest point they've been in years after Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau accused India of being involved with the killing on Canadian soil.

Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a wanted terrorist in India and accused of leading a militant separatist Khalistani group before he was killed in BC. India has vehemently denied these allegations and called them absurd. An Indian spokesperson also labeled Canada as a safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and perpetrators of organized crime.

Canada hasn't provided public evidence behind these allegations, but Trudeau says that his intention isn't to provoke India and is still calling on the Indian government to cooperate with the investigation. How do you feel about the India-Canada freeze? Let us know in the comments, and follow us for more stories.