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OPINION JANUARY 05, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

YEAR-END REVIEW 2023

A tit-for-tat between India and Canada, a helping

hand to Sri Lanka and growing tensions between

President Biden and Xi Jinping of China

A look at the some of the defining moments in international relations

OUR BUREAU PM.
India vehemently denied the
New Delhi
claims, calling them “absurd and mo-
ndia and Canada’s long and his- tivated.” Ministry of External Affairs
torical relations turned into a dip- (MEA) official spokesperson Arin-
Ilomatic row after Canadian Prime dam Bagchi said Canada has provid-
Minister Justin Trudeau raised allega- ed “no specific information” to sup-
tions against the Indian government port the allegations.
over its involvement in the killing
of separatist activist Hardeep Singh India said, in response, that
Nijjar. In September, Trudeau made
the stunning revelation in the House Trudeau’s unsubstantiated and
of Commons that there was credible absurd allegations were only
intelligence linking India’s govern-
ment to the June 18 shooting death meant to shift focus from Can-
of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar ada’s support for Khalistan ter-
outside his gurdwara in Surrey, B.C.
In the aftermath, India swiftly rorists.
retaliated by issuing a statement that
denied any involvement in the issue. After raising allegations against
Interestingly, the Trudeau alle- the Indian government, Canada ex-
gations follow Canada’s decision to pelled the Indian diplomat, Pavan
seek a “pause” in the negotiations for Kumar Rai, a 1997-batch IPS officer.
an Early Progress Trade Agreement, Hours later, the Indian govern-
as confirmed by Indian High Com- ment ordered a senior Canadian
missioner Sanjay Verma. Canada diplomat to leave the country within
didn’t give any reason for suspending 5 days, saying the decision reflect-
the talks. ed growing concern over the inter-
Trudeau also came to India for ference by Canadian diplomats in
the G20 summit, apparently upset India’s internal affairs and their an-
that Ukraine President Volodymyr ti-India activities.
Zelenskyy was not invited to the India summoned Canadian High
event. Commissioner Cameron MacKay to
The New Delhi Leaders’ Dec- convey its decision to expel the dip-
laration was also a far cry from his lomat apparently associated with Ca-
call ahead of the summit to hold Trudeau also came to India for the G20 summit, apparently upset that Ukraine President Volo- nadian intelligence services.
Russia accountable for its actions dymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to the event (ANI) Later on, India “suspended till
in Ukraine. According to sources further notice” its visa services in
here, the Canadian PM insisted on Canada amid a diplomatic row.
a meeting with Prime Minister Nar- Rishi Sunak and French President this year when it publicly accused In- But in October, India decided to
endra Modi on the margins, despite Emmanuel Macaron about Canada’s dia of foreign interference, an issue resume visa services in Canada for
India not being keen, and was finally action, and also as his foreign minis- the Canadian leader finally raised four categories after a considered re-
allowed a 15-minute pull-aside. On ter Melanie Joly threatened to raise with Modi in their meeting on the view of the security situation, which
his way to India, he had said that he the issue with her G7 counterparts margins of the G20 summit. “takes into account some recent Ca-
was going to raise the issue of foreign on the sidelines of the UN General While Trudeau cited “credible” nadian measures in this regard.”
interference if he managed to have a Assembly (UNGA). intelligence to back his claims about Entry visa, Business visa, Medi-
meeting with Modi. India-Canada ties have re- India’s involvement in Nijjar’s kill- cal visa and Conference visa are four
Trudeau, however, seemed pre- mained frosty for several years over ing, the Indian government said in its categories in which India has decid-
pared for an escalation of tensions widespread Khalistan extremism in response that Modi had already and ed to resume visa services in Canada
as he was reported to have briefed Canada but the Trudeau government completely rejected these allegations from October 26.
US President Joe Biden, UK PM seemed to take the gloves off early in his meeting with the Canadian Continued on next page... >>

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