CANADA PLAYS CHINA'S GAME ON INDIA'S BOARD

There is much more than meets the ears in the Canada standoff. Context suggests that Trudeau’s unproven charges are meant for winning back Beijing’s favour

- PINAK RANJAN CHAKRAVARTY

IN a parliament statement, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau accused India of complicity in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and an identified Khalistani terrorist. This has triggered the worst diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Nijjar was wanted in India for several violent crimes, was on the Interpol list, and his capture carried a reward in India. Trudeau said there were "credible allegations". Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat, and named him as the head of the R&AW unit of the Indian High Commission, pointing a direct finger at India's foreign intelligence agency.

Trudeau's so-called "credible allegations" were not backed by any evidence, and he is now busy making statements and drip-feeding the media that there is a "potential link" based on signal and human intelligence. He also claimed that though evidence was provided to India, it denied receiving any specific information.

This seems to be an arrogant assertion of a predominantly white Western country it is sufficient that we have told you, and you must accept and atone for your sins.

India summarily rejected Trudeau's allegations, calling them absurd, motivated and groundless. It retaliated by expelling the Canadian diplomat who was the R&AW head's counterpart in the Canadian High Commission. Both countries issued travel advisories warning their respective citizens in each other's countries to stay safe. India's advisory was strongly worded, mentioning official patronage to terrorists in Canada. India upped the ante by suspending the issuance of visas in Canada and enforcing parity in the number of diplomats posted in each other's countries. The parity principle will force Canada to reduce its diplomats in India.