What a murder in Canada tells us about India's place in the world
Sep 28, 2023
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The murder of a Canadian Sikh sparks a diplomatic bust-up between Canada and India, revealing India's relationship with the West. The podcast explores the assassination of an activist advocating for an independent Sikh state and discusses the accusations against India for the assassination. It also delves into the Sikh population distribution globally, the involvement of Sikh farmers in the Indian farmers movement, and India's foreign policy in relation to China and the West.
The murder of a Sikh separatist in Canada has strained relations between India and the West.
Canada's allies have remained relatively silent on the matter, highlighting India's growing global influence.
Deep dives
Assassination of Hardeep Singh Najar and Canadian-Indian Relations
Hardeep Singh Najar, a Sikh separatist and president of a temple in Surrey, British Columbia, was gunned down outside the temple. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, accused India of being responsible for the murder, suggesting a violation of territory. Canada's allies, including the UK, have remained relatively silent on the matter. The assassination has had a significant impact on Canadian-Indian relations, leading to the expulsion of diplomats, trade deal cancellations, and visa restrictions. The international community's response to Trudeau's accusation has generally been muted, likely due to Canada's role as a reliable ally and India's rising global influence.
The Sikh Movement and Support for Khalistan
Hardeep Singh Najar was an advocate for Khalistan, an independent state for Sikhs. He actively campaigned for its establishment through peaceful means and sought input from Sikh communities worldwide through a referendum. However, India perceived him as a terrorist, linking him to militant groups and several acts of violence. In Canada, which has a large Sikh population, support for Khalistan fluctuates and is estimated to be no more than 25% within the Sikh community. The farmers' movement in 2020 and 2021, which started as a protest against agricultural conditions, also gained support from Sikh farmers and reactivated Sikh networks in the diaspora.
India's Rising Global Influence and Western Silence
Trudeau's accusation against India for Najar's assassination has faced limited condemnation from Canada's main allies, the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, all members of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance. This muted response can be attributed to India's growing importance in world politics. As a rising power and potential strategic partner in countering China's influence, India's strong position has garnered the attention and courtship of Western countries. Balancing their concerns over targeted assassinations and defending democratic norms, these countries have refrained from condemning India outright, aiming to protect their shared interests and maintain India's support in the geopolitical landscape.
When a Canadian Sikh was murdereed in British Colombia in June few predicted the diplomatic bust up that ensued. What does this say about India's relationship with the West?
David Aaronovitch speaks to:
Professor Gurharpal Singh, Emeritus Professor of Sikh and Punjab Studies at SOAS
Nadine Yousif, BBC Canada Correspondent, based in Toronto
Shruti Kapila, Professor of History & Politics at the University of Cambridge
James Crabtree, Executive Director of The International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore and author of The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age
Production: Ben Carter, Claire Bowes and Ellie House
Production co-ordinator: Sophie Hill and Jacqui Johnson
Sound: James Beard
Editor: Richard Vadon
(Image: Sikhs protest for the independence of Khalistan in front of the Indian Consulate in Toronto, Canada, on July 8, 2023. (Photo by Geoff Robins / AFP) (Photo by GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images)
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