The diplomatic relationship between Canada and India is facing turbulent times, as allegations of an Indian government-backed plot to commit violence in North America come to light. Former Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay, has voiced serious concerns, claiming the recent US indictments of Indian nationals and developments in New Delhi point to a coordinated effort.
MacKay, who left his post in August, has been critical of the Indian government’s response, calling it a “fiasco” to believe its agents could orchestrate violent acts without facing consequences. He asserts that “some serious red lines were crossed,” prompting Canada to take strong diplomatic and law enforcement action. He also highlights the Indian government’s ongoing denial and vilification of Canada, claiming this serves to distract its domestic audience from the “real facts.”
The US Department of Justice has indicted Vikash Yadav, an employee of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which includes the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country’s foreign intelligence service. Yadav, who remains at large, faces charges of murder-for-hire and money laundering in connection with an alleged plot to kill Khalistan separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in the US.
The US has expressed satisfaction with the cooperation received from India regarding the case. However, MacKay suggests that repairing diplomatic relations with Canada is not a priority for India at this time, and it will take a significant amount of time to restore the relationship to a normal state.
The assassination attempt on Nijjar was thwarted in June 2022 following the arrest of another co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, who is currently in a US prison after being extradited from the Czech Republic.
Protests erupted outside a Manhattan courthouse on Friday, with demonstrators blaming the Indian government for the murder-for-hire scheme. They expressed their anger through demonstrations, including the creation of an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was shackled and beaten.
While India has denied any involvement, MacKay’s accusations and the ongoing US investigation have cast a shadow over the relationship between Canada and India, highlighting the complexities and tensions that continue to emerge between the two nations.