The diplomatic rift between India and Canada has taken a more severe turn after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alleged that the Indian government had ties with organized crime to orchestrate criminal activity on Canadian soil. The accusations came soon after India expelled Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador from Ottawa.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin made a bold statement during a press conference, claiming that the Indian government was targeting the South Asian community in Canada, particularly pro-Khalistani elements. Gauvin alleged, "It (India) is targeting the South Asian community, but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. From an RCMP perspective, they use organized crime elements, and we believe the (Lawrence) Bishnoi Group is connected to agents of the Government of India."
The RCMP's allegations are part of an ongoing investigation into broad criminal activities allegedly orchestrated by Indian agents, with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang being a key player in these efforts. The Canadian police believe that India is collaborating with this notorious group to sow discord and terror on Canadian soil.
India, however, has strongly condemned these claims, calling them "absurd" and a continuation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's "vote bank politics." In a sharp response, India?s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement: "The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics."
These developments come at a critical time, as Indian authorities are investigating the Lawrence Bishnoi gang for its alleged involvement in the murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai. The overlap in these investigations has further intensified the tension between the two nations.
Diplomatic relations between India and Canada have reached a historic low since both countries expelled each other?s diplomats. The situation deteriorated after Canada's probe into the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India, which has denied involvement in Nijjar?s killing, described Canada?s actions as "preposterous" and a political maneuver by the Trudeau government.
In retaliation to India's decision to expel six Canadian diplomats, Canada took a tit-for-tat approach by asking six Indian diplomats to leave. The RCMP has claimed that the police uncovered evidence of a worsening campaign against Canadian citizens, adding more fuel to an already escalating diplomatic spat.
With the ongoing investigations and the recent RCMP allegations, the diplomatic fallout between the two countries appears far from resolution, and tensions are likely to continue in the near future.
