Sheer opportunism and political ploy are guiding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's political diplomacy in the recent past.
While he did not mind accusing India bluntly of involvement in the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar — an accusation firmly denied by New Delhi — the Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada (BHRC) has questioned the “lack of action” in the kidnapping and alleged murder of exiled Baloch human rights activist Karima Baloch.
The BHRC in a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has charged him with playing politics and ignoring the death of Karima Baloch, who was living in exile in Canada after being slapped with terrorism charges in Pakistan, reportedly for defending the human rights of the people of Balochistan against the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistan Army.
Ms Karima Baloch’s body was recovered on December 22, 2020, by the Toronto Police near Lake Ontario on Toronto Island, the letter said.
Drawing a “stark contrast” with the Canadian government’s actions on the Nijjar killing, the letter stated that Trudeau’s “conspicuous silence regarding the high-profile, unexplained death of Karima Baloch stands in stark contrast to his impassioned speeches in the House of Commons and extensive media coverage concerning the shooting death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada”.
The BHRC went on to question the Canadian government’s consistency and fairness, particularly with regard to the handling of Balochistan’s alleged ongoing human rights violations by the Pakistan Army.
Nijjar was shot dead in Canada on June 18th. He had been designated a “terrorist” by India in July 2020.
In an emergency statement to Canada’s House of Commons last week, Trudeau said the country’s security agencies have been “actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and Nijjar’s death”.
The decline in perceived electoral popularity has also led Trudeau to take up the so called diplomatic crusade against India. He needs to win over the support of radical and pro-Khalistani and anti-India Sikhs. Latest surveys say if Canada is to hold elections today, Trudeau would lose.
As many as 40 percent favoured Pierre Poilievre, the opposition Conservative party leader. Trudeau got a modest 31 percent and importantly 22 percent thought Khalistani leader Jagmeet Singh should be elected to rule Canada. This brings Trudeau-Jagmeet radical Sikh politics tango ! A sheer case of political desperation!
The Govt of India has been closely monitoring Canada-based Sikh terror groups and their operatives. And hence a close watch is being kept on the role of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh (coalition partner in the Trudeau government) in encouraging extremist views.
India had engaged with certain countries, including Russia, on Jagmeet Singh's pro-extremist ideologies. Russia has banned Jagmeet's entry into its territory based on inputs provided by New Delhi, reported 'The Economic Times'. Jagmeet Singh has also dabbled in the pro-Ukraine campaign often targeting Russia, making him unpopular in Moscow. There is yet another feature. Jagmeet's support base apparently has also come down by about 4 per cent since September 2022.
Hence this 'radical' anti-India and pro-Khalistani politics and the alliance making between Jagmeet and Trudeau.
In September 2021, Trudeau's Liberal Party won the re-election but failed to win a majority in Parliament. In March 2022, Trudeau struck a deal with Singh's NDP for support in exchange for deals on pharmaceutical and dental care plans.
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The Pakistan angle
Islamabad could be rejoicing at this fresh Canada-India diplomatic row. But it has its own share of experience. When the Sikh movement published a map of Khalistan, it included parts of the Pakistani side of Punjab.
This had prompted Gen Zia to order his government to keep Sikhs “under strict surveillance”.
Pakistani media also reported that in 1988, the then director-general of the ISI, Gen Hamid Gul, called on prime minister Benazir Bhutto and advocated a plan to support the Khalistan movement in Indian Punjab as a bid to pre-empt any Indian threat.
Benazir Bhutto reportedly did not approve the move.
In 2018-19, when Kartarpaur corridor was taken up, Pakistan army was more than enthusiastic presuming he situation could be exploited. It backed Imran Khan and ex cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was befriended by fellow cricket star Imran. Siddhu even called Imran 'yaar, dildaar' while Imran reportedly said, 'apna Siddhu'.
ends
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