Kabir Mission News. India and Canada established their diplomatic relations in the year 1947. In these 76 years of journey India- canada relations faced several ups and downs. Now the munder of khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar strained the India- canada relations.
Khalistani movement & CanadaThe demand for the khalistan as a separate Sikh country, first raised in the Lahore session of the congress in 1929 by Dr. Vir Singh Bhatti as Muslim league demanded Pakistan a separate nation for Muslims but strong opposition of Congress leaders put the demand in bag.
Shiromani Akali Dal reiterated the demand for Khalistan several times on Various platforms but after independence Jawaharlal Nehru promised for autonomy and development of Punjab but when India got only 1/3rd of Punjab then Akali Dal felt cheated. However through some government efforts demand for Khalistan got into dormancy but when green revolution took place in Punjab in 1960s and Punjab became a prosperous state .
This prosperity led to armament of khalistani movement and Khalistani started as a militant group.In 1970s and 1980s this separatist Khalistani movement led by Jarnail Singh Bhinrawale. He made Golden Temple ,Amritsar as his operation center and started militant operations from Harminder Sahib Gurudwara in Amritsar.
Contemporary Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi got informed about it and she ordered for abolition of Jarnail Singh Bhinrawale and finally Operation Blue Star was organised by Indian army against Bhinrawale and he was killed in this operation but a bullet of canon damaged the ‘Akal Takht’ which provoked the religious feelings of Sikhs. It also became the reason for Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
After operation Blue Star, a militant group ‘International Sikh Youth Federation’ was established which is still active in pro- khalistani activities. It is designated as a terrorist group by Canada , India, Japan, United States and European Union.
In 2007 ‘Sikh for Justice’ a pro-khalistani organisation is also established. A 1978 established ‘Babbar khalsa International’ organisation is still in operation.
The biggest challenge for India- Canada relation is Canada’s appeasement policy of Pro-khalistani organisations.
Co-operations in various fields between India and Canada-
India-Canada bilateral trade is about $ 6 billion annually and Indian investment in Canada was valued at over $ 4 billion.
Around 600 Canadian companies have their presence in India and 1000 Canadian companies operated in Indian market. India -Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks are also going on.Indian diaspora in Canada is about 4% of the total population of Canada that is there are 1.6million people live in Canada who are Indian origin.
According to data released by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC),in 2023 there were 3,19,130 international students from India enrolled in Canadian institutions.India-Canada co-operates in the field of research and space also. The commercial wing of ISRO ANTRIX has launched several nano-satellites from Canada. ISRO also launched Canadian satellite by its PSLV launch Vehicle.
Recent India-Canada relations-
In June 2023, Canada permits a parade that depicts the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Minister of External Affairs for India Mr. S. Jaishankar raised a strong protest against it.
In September 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case strains the India-Canada relations. As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian Research and Analysis Wing(RAW) for murdering Nijjar. India again warned Canada to not say anything which have not any strong base.
News are coming that Canada banned visas for Indians. A post is getting viral on X(formally Twitter) that Canada is going to ban Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh( RSS) in Canada. But according to some fact check websites ,this is only a rumour and there is no official information about it from the Canadian officials.
Now, the India-Canada relations are on its lowest point, which will impact students, business professionals etc. It may effect the India-Canada FTA talks. These deteriorating relations between the two countries will hamper the economic progress of both countries as well.
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