Skip to main content

Canadian govt's Khalistan policy 'result of' free speech, pro-migrants policy

By NS Venkataraman* 
Referring to the policy of the Government of Canada  for "permitting" the activities of  those who are demanding and carrying campaign  for  independent state in other countries (for example by the supporters of LTTE in Sri Lanka and Khalistan in India),  Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar reportedly said the Canadian government should know the Newton’s  Third  Law. 
Newton's Third  Law states that  for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  This  refers to a scenario that if Object A exerts a force on Object B, then Object B exerts an equal amount of force on Object A in the opposite direction.
The view is strong in the Indian foreign office  that the Canadian government is freely allowing the activities of separatist forces, which is creating serious problems for other countries like India and Sri Lanka. Such policy approach of the Canadian government gives an impression that it is "unconcerned" about the problems caused to other countries due to its policy of permitting  separatist activities  in Canada.
The is held by foreign office experts that the Canadian government seems to be justifying such policy approach, by claiming what it calls  “free speech policy of the government”.  However, it is not concerned about the "harmful impact of the free speech and free action policy" of the government on other countries. As for as the affected countries,  this free speech talk is a serious matter and  they would be justified in concluding that Canada, which permits  the activities of separatists, is a hostile country.
These sources think, Sri Lanka suffered enormously due to the ethnic  war caused by the LTTE separatists, who largely operated from Canada,  with the Canadian government closing its eyes on the activities of the LTTE on Canadian soil.  Prolonged internal war took place in Sri Lanka, for which Canadian government is largely responsible indirectly, by  providing   free territorial space to the LTTE separatists in Canada. While a few other countries in Europe too have done  this, Canada is the foremost country to have  permitted the LTTE separatists.
When the  Indian Foreign Minister referred to Newton’s Third Law, it is suggested, he obviously meant that India cannot remain a silent spectator, when   anti-Indian Khalistani separatist movement is being organised from Canadian soil and particularly with the Canadian government irresponsibly keeping its eyes closed. India has to necessarily  protect its territorial integrity, and whatever it is required to do so, it has to do  as required by the ground situation.
The foreign office experts note, when LTTE waged ethnic war in Sri Lanka with  considerable base in Canadian soil, Sri Lanka could do nothing about it, as it was a small country   facing local difficult situation. But, such would not be the scenario in the case of India, which is a large country with considerable muscle power to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In several European countries also such liberal migrant, refugee policy has caused havoc in recent  times
In the past, it is suggested, Canada had the image of a large, prosperous and under-populated country. The Government of Canada adopted  an open arm policy  to the refugees and migrants from all over the world, perhaps with minimum   check and control. 
While such policy approach contributed and continues to contribute to  demographic imbalance in the country, Canada also has become a fertile country for separatists from other countries to establish  their base in Canada and operate freely against other countries. 
These experts are of the view that there is bound to be negative impact on the social and political climate in Canada due to such policy, which is a suicidal.  There is already some evidence   to indicate such trend.  In recent times,  there have been number of incidents of ethnic clashes and hate mongering in Canada.  
It is further pointed out that in several European countries also such liberal migrant/ refugee policy has caused havoc in recent  times,  with several cities in Europe including London, Brussels, having population mix and migrants outnumbering the natives. 
Supporting the stance of Donald Trump, former US President, they insist, he has correctly said that London  and Paris are no more recognisable due to the influx of migrants. Hence, European countries have now understood the gravity of the situation.
However, these observers think,  this could be too late now to retrieve the situation, as the migrants/ refugees cannot be thrown out of the country in any effective manner. The recent decision of the UK government  to send the asylum seekers to Rwanda indicates the level of concern in European countries.
The Canadian government should derive right lesson from the present predicament of European countries, it is underscored. It should also understand that  if it would facilitate separatists in Canada to harm other countries, then Canada  cannot escape from the consequence of Newton’s Third Law  becoming  applicable to Canada.
---
*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai 

Comments

TRENDING

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai*  The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan   Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

​ By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  ​The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Concentration of wealth in India at levels 'comparable to colonial times', says new report

By Jag Jivan  A new report published in March 2026 by the Centre for Financial Accountability and the Tax The Top campaign paints a stark picture of deepening economic disparity in India, documenting a concentration of wealth that it argues is “comparable to colonial times.” Titled Wealth Tracker India | Tax the Top. Close the Gap , the compilation presents data from the World Inequality Database and the Hurun Rich List to illustrate the meteoric rise of the ultra-wealthy alongside the stagnation and debt burdens of the majority.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative   Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Beneath the stone: Revisiting the New Jersey mandir controversy

By Rajiv Shah  A recent report published in the British media outlet The Guardian , titled “Workers carved the largest modern Hindu temple in the west. Now, some have incurable lung disease,” took me back to my visits to the New Jersey mandir —first in 2022, when it was still under construction, though parts of it were open to visitors, and again in 2024, after its completion.