Former prime minister Stephen Harper known as on Canada to resume its ties with India, arguing in a speech on Saturday that the nation is an indispensable accomplice in a unstable world.
He additionally mentioned Canadian political events — together with the Conservative Celebration he as soon as led — ought to minimize all ties with activists calling for the creation of a Sikh nation.
In his remarks at an occasion in Brampton, Ont., Harper didn’t point out the RCMP linking the federal government in New Delhi to widespread acts of homicide, extortion and coercion throughout Canada.
“There isn’t any cause why nations like Canada and India can’t be these enlightened voices working collectively, which we will do and may do by placing our latest disputes behind us,” Harper mentioned.
Harper made the feedback on the IMEC Canada-India Charity Gala, the place he accepted an award from a bunch that focuses on doing enterprise with India.
He known as on Canada’s events to “sever” ties with Sikh separatists who’ve for many years campaigned for a separate nation known as Khalistan to be carved out of India.
Relations between Ottawa and New Delhi have been in a deep freeze since fall 2023, when then-prime minister Justin Trudeau mentioned his authorities had seen “credible allegations” linking brokers of the Indian authorities to the homicide of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar close to Vancouver.
A 12 months later, Ottawa expelled six Indian diplomats after the RCMP alleged that New Delhi was behind widespread and violent legal acts throughout Canada.
The allegations haven’t been confirmed in courtroom. The Canadian Press has requested Harper to elucidate why he did not point out the allegations in opposition to India in his remarks. Harper has up to now mentioned he cannot communicate to the small print of these circumstances.
India has mentioned the Khalistan motion threatens its nationwide safety. Ottawa has lengthy mentioned that it upholds India’s territorial integrity however will not crack down on freedom of expression in Canada.
Harper mentioned Sikh separatists “have a proper to their democratic views” however he urged these views haven’t any place throughout the Canadian authorities.
“These political events can not have a powerful relationship with India until they sever relations with those that search to convey the battles of India’s previous to Canada, and sever relations with those that search to divide the nice nation that’s trendy India,” he mentioned.
WATCH | What’s Khalistan?:
What’s Khalistan? A have a look at the motion for an unbiased Sikh state
Some Sikhs have traditionally been looking for an unbiased Sikh homeland in northern India known as Khalistan. Specialists say the historical past of the motion is advanced, emotional and evolving.
Harper additionally revealed that his authorities’s 2006 choice to open a commerce workplace in Modi’s house state of Gujarat in 2009 was made “utterly opposite to the recommendation of World Affairs Canada.”
The Canadian Press has requested Harper’s workplace why this choice went in opposition to public sector recommendation. Modi has been accused of failing to forestall sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims in 2002 throughout his time period as chief minister of Gujarat.
Harper’s Saturday feedback come as New Delhi and Ottawa sign a want to restore relations. Modi congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney shortly after his April election victory.
Overseas Affairs Minister Anita Anand mentioned she had a “productive dialogue” together with her Indian counterpart on Might 25 about “deepening our financial co-operation and advancing shared priorities.”
These feedback alarmed Sikh organizations, which accused Ottawa of placing financial issues forward of human rights.
The Sikh Federation has known as on Ottawa to interrupt with a five-year custom by not inviting Modi to the G7 summit this month in Kananaskis, Alta.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s authorities has been accused by Canada of being concerned in crimes on its soil, together with the homicide of an activist in B.C. (Manish Swarup/The Related Press)
Vina Nadjibulla, analysis vice-president for the Asia Pacific Basis, mentioned Canada can get relations with India again on monitor by making a mechanism for legislation enforcement in each nations to permit them to debate safety issues with out overwhelming the bilateral relationship.
“That must be handled, however in its personal monitor,” she mentioned, proposing “a mechanism to take care of this quick problem, but additionally to construct belief, and create a platform for dialogue.”
Nadjibulla mentioned Canada’s failure to hunt nearer ties with India makes it an outlier amongst G7 nations, notably when each nations are remodeling their commerce flows in response to American tariffs.
She mentioned the election of a brand new authorities in Canada and the upcoming G7 summit provide “a gap” for a reset that might contain reinstating excessive commissioners or relaunching commerce talks.
“Since 2019, India has been invited to each G7 in recognition of its rising significance, each because the fourth-largest economic system in addition to an vital voice for the World South,” she mentioned. India shall be an important participant guaranteeing that the rules-based world order is revered, she argued.
In February, Nadjibulla led an unofficial delegation of Canadian consultants to India to have a look at how Ottawa might get relations with New Delhi again on monitor.
The ensuing evaluation, printed final month, mentioned India feels Canada mishandled the legal investigation of the 1985 Air India bombing and hasn’t achieved sufficient to thwart terrorism by Sikh separatists.
The evaluation mentioned India’s views, together with Canada’s issues about Indian repression and political interference, might be aired by a working group much like a mechanism Washington launched after American investigators reported having foiled a homicide plot in opposition to a Sikh activist in New York Metropolis.
“We have to proceed step-by-step and deal with the problems which can be tough. And on the coronary heart of which can be nationwide safety issues, on either side,” Nadjibulla mentioned.
In February, Harper instructed a convention in India he did not “totally perceive” why Canada has such a poor relationship with New Delhi.
At the moment, Harper accused the Khalistan motion of “infiltrating” the Liberal Celebration and praised Modi “for not disrupting these people-to-people ties,” even after India dropped diplomatic safety for many Canadian envoys within the nation.
The Liberals initially made India a significant focus of their Indo-Pacific technique in late 2022, describing the nation as a democratic nation with sturdy commerce potential.
