Editorial: Dangerous liaisons

Violence at a Hindu temple reflects a new low for the Trudeau administration, which has been recklessly burning bridges with India

The violence at a Hindu temple in Canada’s Brampton was a symptom of a deeper malaise linked to the Justin Trudeau government’s policy of unbridled encouragement to the extremist elements. The unsavoury incident has not only exposed the inept handling of a sensitive situation but also reflected a new low for the Trudeau administration, which has been recklessly burning bridges with India following the murder of Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. Though Trudeau has condemned the temple violence and promised that all Canadians have the right to practise their faith freely, he owes an explanation for letting anti-India elements have their way with impunity. The video footage of the temple incident showed that the local police targeted Hindu devotees and tried to protect Khalistan supporters. This has justifiably evoked widespread outrage in India. The Hindu-Sikh tensions in the Maple Country are closely linked to the deterioration in India-Canada relations. Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison’s allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists in that country has raised India’s hackles. This is an irresponsible and outrageous statement. The charge also emboldened pro-Khalistan elements to up the ante against the Indian government. Their anti-India protests have put them on a collision course with Indian-origin Canadian citizens. Canada, which proudly regards itself as a peace-loving land of opportunities, needs to deal firmly with those who threaten communal harmony and public order. It must crack down on troublemakers and rabble-rousers, no matter which community they belong to.

Trudeau owes an explanation as to why he built up the anti-India rhetoric to such a degree that any reconciliation between the two countries appears impossible till he remains in office. Allowing the misuse of Canadian territory to spew venom against India — all in the name of freedom of expression — is undermining his government’s diplomatic and democratic credentials. Even a cursory look at the policies of his administration reveals that it is blatantly playing to the Sikh diaspora’s extremist fringe, treating them as vote banks. His government has consistently ignored India’s concerns about the rise of anti-India extremist groups in Canada. The 2018 ‘Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada’ listed Sikh extremism and violence as a matter of concern but under pressure from Sikh leaders and ministers, a revised report was published in 2019. Trudeau’s Liberal Party has been facing significant criticism at home for mishandling foreign policy matters, with opinion surveys showing a steady decline in public confidence in Trudeau’s leadership. Recent reports even suggest that 22 of his own party’s senators have recommended that he step aside, a stark indicator of eroding support. Given these internal pressures, Trudeau’s actions could be part of a broader strategy to appeal to certain voter blocs, especially those that might be sympathetic to pro-Khalistan causes.

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