India-Canada relation Flashcards
NEWS
Recently, the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India for playing a role in the assassination of a prominent Sikh Canadian leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In the aftermath, India swiftly retaliated by issuing a statement that denied any involvement in the issue and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.
With these changes happening, let’s dive into the significance of Indo-Canadian relations and what difficulties they need to work on together to make their bilateral relationship stronger and lasting
Recently, the tensions between India and Canada escalated when the Canadian Prime Minister alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani Leader designated as a terrorist by India, in Surrey in June 2023.
India rejected these allegations and accused Canada of sheltering Khalistani Extremists.
What are the Significant Pillars of India Canada RelationSHIP
Political Relations:
India established diplomatic relations with Canada in 1947.
India and Canada have a long standing bilateral relationship based on shared principles such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, and pluralism.
Economic Cooperation:
Until recently,bilateral trade between India and Canada amounted to $6 billion annually, and Indian investment in Canada was valued at over $4 billion.
According to Invest India, Canada is the 18th largest foreign investor in India with an overall investment of about $3,306 million from April 2000 to March 2023.
Over 600 Canadian companies have a presence in India and over 1,000 Canadian companies are actively pursuing business in the Indian market.
Both countries are engaged in technical negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) including trade in goods, services, investment, and trade facilitation.
Diaspora Connections:
Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas in the world, numbering 16 lakh people of Indian origin, accounting for more than 3 % of the total Canadian population and 700,000 Non Residential Indians (NRIs).
Education and Innovation:
Indian students studying in Canada now comprise approximately 40% of the entire population of international students in Canada.
Canada’s Intellectual Property Office and India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) agreed to strengthen cooperation in the area of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
Strategic Importance:
To diversify the Canadian economy, India is a critical partner under its Indo-Pacific strategy, given the country’s growing economic and demographic importance in the region.
Science and Technology:
Department of Biotechnology under IC-IMPACTS program implements joint research projects in health care, agri-biotech and waste management.
IC-IMPACTS (the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability) is the first, and only, Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence.
The Department of Earth Science and Polar Canada have started a programme for exchange of knowledge and scientific research on Cold Climate (Arctic) Studies.
Space:
ISRO and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have signed MOUs in the field of exploration and utilization of outer space.
-ANTRIX, the Commercial arm of ISRO, has launched several nanosatellites from Canada.
ISRO in its 100th Satellite PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) launched in 2018, also flew Canadian first LEO (Low earth Orbit) satellite, from Indian spaceport Sriharikota.
What are the Challenges of the India Canada Relationship?
Cultural Sensitivities
Visa and Immigration Policies:
In recent years, there have been reports of Indian students facing difficulties obtaining visas to study in Canada, which has caused dissatisfaction and raised concerns in India.
Differing Stances on International Issues:
Recently, during the G20 meeting in New Delhi, Canada and India did not have bilateral talks, but instead met on the sidelines
Differing opinions on issues such as the political situation in Kashmir have strained diplomatic ties.
Agricultural Trade Disputes:
Indian dairy and poultry producers have expressed trade related concerns over Canadian exports of products such as pulses and canola oil.
What is the Khalistan Movement?
The Khalistan movement is a fight for a separate, sovereign Sikh state in present day Punjab (both India and Pakistan).
The demand has resurfaced many times, most prominently during a violent insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s which paralysed Punjab for over a decade.
The movement was crushed in India following Operation Blue Star (1984) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988), but it continues to evoke sympathy and support among sections of the Sikh population, especially in the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia
What are the Recent Anti-India Activities in Canada?
Recent Anti-India Activities:
Operation Bluestar Anniversary Parade (June 2023): In Brampton, Ontario, a parade seemed to celebrate the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, displaying a blood-stained figure and advocating revenge for the attack on Darbar Sahib.
Pro-Khalistan Referendum (2022): Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan organization, conducted a so-called “referendum” on Khalistan in Brampton, claiming significant support.
Sanjh Savera Magazine (2002): In 2002, the Toronto-based Punjabi-language weekly Sanjh Savera greeted Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary with a cover illustration celebrating her murder, glorifying those responsible.
The magazine received government advertisements and is now a prominent daily newspaper in Canada.
Indian Concerns Over such Activities:
Indian diplomats based in Canada have on numerous occasions said that Canada’s failure to tackle “Sikh extremism”, and the constant harassment of Indian diplomats and officials by Khalistanis, is a major foreign policy stress point.
The Indian Prime Minister (PM) raised strong concerns about Sikh protests in Canada with the Canadian PM on the sidelines of a G20 summit in New Delhi.
Canada has paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India.
How will Khalistan Radicalism Impact India-Canada Relations?
Strained Diplomatic Relations:
The allegations and counter-allegations can strain diplomatic ties, affecting the overall relationship between the two nations.
Trust and confidence may be eroded, making it difficult to collaborate on various bilateral and international issues.
Security Implications for India:
The Khalistan movement is considered a security threat to India’s Sovereignty getting grounds in Foreign Countries.
In April 2023, India arrested a Sikh separatist Leader for allegedly reviving calls for Khalistan, sparking fears of new violence in Punjab.
Earlier in 2023, India hit out at Canada for allowing a float in a parade depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi, perceiving this to be a glorification of Sikh separatist violence.
It is also concerning for India about frequent demonstrations and vandalism by Sikh separatists and their supporters at Indian diplomatic missions in Canada, Britain, the U.S. and Australia causing threat to Indian Sovereignty and Integrity.
Impact on Trade and Economy:
Trade relations might suffer as the accusations could affect business partnerships and investment flows between India and Canada.
Businesses may exercise caution or reassess their engagement due to the heightened political tension.
India-Canada bilateral trade in goods reached approximately USD 8.2 billion in 2022, showing a 25% growth compared to 2021.
The services sector was emphasised as a significant contributor to the bilateral relationship, with bilateral services trade valued at around USD 6.6 billion in 2022.
Reduced Cooperation on Key Issues:
Cooperation on critical global challenges such as climate change, counter-terrorism, and international security might be adversely impacted.
Both countries may find it challenging to align their positions and work together effectively on these shared concerns.
Potential Travel and People-to-People Impact:
The escalating tensions could affect travel and interactions between Indian and Canadian citizens, making it more cumbersome or less appealing to travel to each other’s countries.
Reassessment of Immigration Policies:
Canada may review or tighten its immigration policies, especially concerning individuals associated with Khalistani separatism, in response to India’s concerns about sheltering such elements.
Long-Term Bilateral Cooperation:
The recent tensions could have a lasting effect on long-term bilateral cooperation and partnerships.
Rebuilding trust and reestablishing a constructive relationship might require substantial efforts and time.
India established diplomatic relations with Canada in 1947. India and Canada have a long-standing bilateral relationship based on shared democratic values, the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi religious nature of two societies and strong people-to-people contacts.
What is the History of Khalistan Movement and Terrorism in Canada?
Early Khalistan Movement in Canada:
The Khalistan movement traces back to Surjan Singh Gill’s establishment of the ‘Khalistan government in exile’ office in Vancouver in 1982, with limited local Sikh support.
Connection to Punjab Militancy:
The militancy in Punjab during the 1980s had repercussions in Canada.
Canada’s handling of individuals like Talwinder Singh Parmar, accused of terrorism in Punjab, was criticized by India.
Air India Bombing (1985):
Canada witnessed a horrific act of terrorism with the bombing of Air India Kanishka in June 1985, orchestrated by the Babbar Khalsa, a Khalistani outfit.
What are the Previous Instances of India-Canada Tensions?
Early Tensions (1948):
The strained relations trace back to 1948 when Canada supported a plebiscite in Kashmir, reflecting early discord.
1998 Nuclear Tests:
Canada’s recall of its high commissioner to India following India’s nuclear tests marked a significant downturn in relations.
Recent Developments:
PM of Canada expressions of concern regarding India’s response to farmers’ protests and his Liberal Party’s alliance with the New Democratic Party (NDP), which endorsed the Khalistan Referendum, further fueled tensions.
