CARNEY'S INDIA TEST

Mark Carney's election opens a crucial window to reset strained India-Canada ties, fractured by Khalistan-linked tensions, diaspora politics, and Trudeau-era diplomatic standoffs.

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The 2025 Canadian federal election marks a turning point in Indo-Canadian relations. With Mark Carney's Liberal Party clinching a comeback win, replacing Justin Trudeau's contentious leadership, both Ottawa and New Delhi are eyeing a reset. The stakes, however, are high. At the centre of this diplomatic tightrope lies an old, festering wound: the Khalistan movement, particularly the activities of secessionist outfits like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Canadian soil.

TRUDEAU'S LEGACY: DIPLOMATIC FREEZE AND THE NIJJAR FALLOUT India-Canada relations reached their lowest ebb under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The flashpoint came in September 2023 when Trudeau accused "Indian agents" of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a Canadian citizen and a vocal Khalistani separatist—outside a gurdwara in British Columbia. India rejected the claims outright, calling them "absurd and politically motivated." What followed was a rapid deterioration of ties: tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, Canada halting trade talks, and India suspending visa services for Canadians.

But the real issue for India was not just the accusation—it was Canada's long-standing reluctance to crack down on extremist Sikh separatist groups thriving within its borders. For years, New Delhi had flagged the activities of SFJ and its controversial referendums calling for a separate Sikh homeland. These exercises, hosted in cities like Brampton and Surrey, were backed by individuals India deems terrorists, some of whom had Interpol notices against them. Yet, under Trudeau, such actors often enjoyed the liberties of free speech under Canada's liberal democratic framework—even when those liberties translated into targeted acts of vandalism, threats, and political provocation.