India-Canada diplomatic dispute threatens Modi's global aspirations
Photo: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (getty images)
Experts say the confrontation between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh activist could affect India's ambitions as it seeks to position itself as a global power, according to AP.
Michael Kugelman of the US-based Wilson Center think tank said India's strong reaction is partly due to how publicly Canada has made its accusations.
“New Delhi is extremely sensitive to any external criticism of its policies. And yet, Canada isn’t only criticizing Indian policy. Its government, on the highest levels, is publicly voicing some of the most serious allegations that another government can make,” he said.
Praveen Donthi, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, stated that the growing rift between India and Canada will also "impact the growing strategic understanding between the US and Western democracies," which aim to engage New Delhi as a counterbalance to Beijing.
"The Canadian allegations against India come against the grain, as New Delhi has been enjoying a favorable external environment. This will throw a spanner in the works for India’s great power ambitions," Donthi said.
On Monday, Canada accused the Indian government of involvement in murder and extortion aimed at silencing India's critics living in Canada. The conflict began last year with the killing of a Sikh activist.
Who was the leader of Canadian Sikhs
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a leader of Sikh separatists who publicly advocated for Khalistan — the establishment of an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region of India.
In the 1970s, Sikhs launched a separatist insurgency in India that claimed thousands of lives before it was suppressed the following decade. Since then, the movement has mostly been limited to countries with large Sikh populations.
India had previously described Nijjar as a terrorist who led a militant separatist group. His supporters believe the charges were baseless. Nijjar had reportedly received threats due to his activism.
People close to him say that Canadian intelligence had warned him before his death that he was on a hit list and that his life was in danger.
In early May, three Indian nationals were arrested on charges of killing a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, which triggered a major diplomatic conflict between the two countries.
