Bid to isolate India globally 'to drive it even closer' to long-time ally, Russia

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*

The relationship between India and Canada has plunged to unprecedented lows, with both governments seemingly exploiting the situation for their domestic political gains. Canada has long been home to several anti-India elements, with little action taken against them. When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, some of these secessionist groups openly celebrated and issued further threats, particularly from Canada and Britain.

While Britain eventually acted to contain such elements in the interest of maintaining ties with India, Canada did not. Over the years, India has sought the extradition of 23 criminals residing in Canada, but the Canadian government has mostly dismissed these requests, claiming these individuals have no criminal records in their country.

The current tensions between the two nations are rooted in the longstanding issue of Khalistan separatist movements based in Canada, which has been a hotbed for anti-India propaganda. Rather than addressing these issues, Canada has continued to provide shelter to these groups, even failing to act against violent protests outside the Indian High Commission.

Notably, those responsible for the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182, which killed 329 people, including 268 Canadians, had ties to this network. In the name of political dissent and human rights, Canada has maintained a soft stance on anti-India rhetoric within its borders.

The Indian government, on its part, mishandled the farmers' protests, linking them with the Khalistan movement for political reasons. While a large Sikh population resides in Canada, it is a stretch to suggest widespread support for the Khalistan cause among them. The ruling BJP, in an effort to discredit the farmers' protests, allowed certain Hindutva elements to falsely associate the movement with Khalistani separatists, inadvertently aiding those very forces.

This conflict is likely to have broader consequences, as key Western allies of Canada—such as the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand—may align with Canada due to their historical and political ties. Canada has accused India of criminal activities on its soil, while India has criticized Canada for harboring pro-Khalistan groups. The substantial Sikh population in Canada makes their political influence crucial for any party vying for power, which has limited political opposition to anti-India propaganda in the country.

Canada's recent expulsion of Indian diplomats, followed by India's reciprocal actions, highlights the deepening crisis. Prime Minister Trudeau has accused India of threatening Canadian citizens, particularly by gathering intelligence on Khalistani groups and sharing it with criminal elements. India, as a long-time victim of terrorism, expects Western countries to adopt a more consistent approach on issues of human rights and democracy, especially in light of the West's support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.

In contrast to the strained relations with Canada and its Western allies, India continues to maintain strong ties with Russia. Despite some tensions in India's foreign policy—particularly Modi's outreach to Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict—Russia remains India's steadfast ally, especially as the West seeks to weaken the India-Russia bond.

Western pressure on India could unintentionally drive it closer to Russia, much like the alignment seen during Indira Gandhi's tenure in the 1970s.

The current situation highlights the challenges India faces in navigating global politics, especially under a leadership driven by sectarian narratives.

While Canada's allegations have brought international scrutiny, the larger issue is how India will balance its relationships with both Western nations and Russia going forward. In the end, this crisis may not isolate India but instead reinforce its alliance with Russia, pushing the two countries closer together as they confront shared international pressures.

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*Human rights defender

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