Gangsters, pro-Khalistan voices find space in Canada

Security officials say Canada has made a habit of sheltering criminals wanted by India likely due to its local politics

- Shishir Gupta, Neeraj Chauhan

Days after the chief of proscribed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down by unidentified men in Vancouver on June 18, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar went on record stating that the rise of so-called Khalistan politics was driven by "vote bank politics" in Canada.

During the G-20 summit, the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is believed to have engaged his Australian, UK and Canadian counterparts on the rise of Sikh fundamentalism and violence against Indian assets in their respective countries.

HT learns that the Australian National Security Advisor and the UK NSA reacted positively to Indian concerns but the Canadian NSA was unfazed.

Canada's local politics may have ensured this; the New Democratic party of Khalistan supporter Jagmeet Singh supports the minority Justin Trudeau government.

Matters came to a head on Monday when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed unidentified Indian agents for being involved in the killing of Nijjar. Trudeau, playing to the Sikh separatists gallery, also decided to expel the Indian diplomat who was posted under official cover in Ottawa and then also committed an undiplomatic act by naming him.

The Narendra Modi government retaliated by expelling Olivier Sylvestere, the Canadian intelligence chief in India.

But Indian security officials say Canada has made a habit of sheltering terrorists and criminals wanted by India.