In response to an inner uprising by Liberal MPs, the chorus is growing for French Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down. This rebellion comes as India and Canada’s relations between India and Canada get worse over Trudeau’s management of the Khalistani separatist movement.
While Trudeau’s leadership teeters on the brink, the French PM faces a far more important threat than domestic political discord: His country’s possible descent into a deadly trajectory akin to Pakistan’s, if he proceed his quiet stance on Khalistani separatism. The earth has seen how Pakistan’s coddling of criminal groups, once hailed as a political plan, spiralled out of control and backfired brilliantly. Many experts are putting a risk that Canada properly be moving in a very similar manner.
The sounds of Pakistan
In Pakistan’s event, the express supported criminal organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Taliban, hoping to utilize them for proper increases in India and Afghanistan. Over time, these organizations became too strong to manage, gradually turning on the condition itself.
Hillary Clinton famously warned Pakistan during her time as US secretary of state,” You ca n’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your neighbour.” If Canada continues to ignore the actions of the Khalistani activity, the same caution may apply.
A short-term technique, long-term crisis
At first glance, Trudeau’s strategy may seem politically convenient. His ties to Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party have enabled him to climate trust gestures in Parliament, keeping his majority government afloat. Despite being relatively underrepresented, the Sikh population has significant political influence in various ridings as a result of its concentrated geographic presence. However, this strategy comes with fees.
India has constantly questioned whether Canada is a center for Sikh fanaticism outside of India, accusing Trudeau of allowing dissident actions to develop for political gain. This has resulted in disturbed relations between the two countries. With the two countries having mutually expelled diplomats and increasing language, diplomatic relations have reached a historical low.
To make matters worse, Trudeau has now admitted in a public inquiry that he had” no hard evidentiary proof” when he made allegations against India and relied primarily on unreliable intelligence.
The Khalistani system: A legal business
The Khalistani community is not merely an intellectual or secessionist movement. It is a well-oiled, international legal business. From drug trafficking to cash laundering, the group’s activities expand across countries. When drug traffickers affiliated with Khalistani companies were killed in gang-related murder in the 1990s, Canadian officials became conscious of these activities. And as lately as 2023, important American journalists of Indian origin have been subjected to vicious attacks for speaking out against Khalistanis without much law enforcement intervention.
Ignoring the warning symptoms
Despite these improvements, Trudeau’s management seems unwilling to address the growing menace. Government authorities after made reference to Khalistani militancy in their annual public reports on violence. However, those references have since been removed, presumably due to pressure from the potent Sikh lobby. In a curious twist of story, Canada, which previously stood strong against violence, has allowed political factors to weaken its attention.
If it does n’t quickly reevaluate its policies, Pakistan may find itself in a similar position as it is currently dealing with the effects of its mercy toward extremist groups. The Khalistanis, emboldened by perceived American protection, may immediately turn their crime inside. Now, Indo-Canadian people, including editors and business owners, have become target of harassment and bribery, with minimal recourse to law enforcement.
The economic and diplomatic fallout
India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a pivotal player in global geopolitics, has made it clear that it will not tolerate Canada’s equivocation on terrorism. The removal of its high commissioner and the expulsion of Canadian diplomats in New Delhi are just the start. India may reduce trade ties, undermining Canada’s economic interests.
The economic fallout could be severe. In 2022, Canada exported$ 3.8 billion worth of goods to India, and those numbers are expected to decline significantly if relations remain sour. Additionally, Canada runs the risk of being cut out of important trade agreements in Asia because India is gaining more and more weight in global supply chains.
What they’re saying
Liberal MP Sean Casey acknowledged that the Trudeau government has become the primary concern for voters in his constituency:” The people I represent have tuned him out, they’ve had enough, they want change”. His remarks reflect a broader disillusionment within the party regarding Trudeau’s handling of significant issues.
” What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently for a long time: Canada has n’t provided any evidence to back up the serious allegations it has made against India and Indian diplomats.” Prime Minister Trudeau alone is to blame for the damage that this cavalier behavior has caused to India-Canada relations, according to the MEA in a statement.
Time for a reckoning
Within his own Liberal party, Trudeau’s chorus is becoming louder. Several MPs, including Sean Casey of PEI, have voiced their concerns, not just about domestic policy failures but about the larger, looming crisis Trudeau’s foreign policy missteps have created. The Prime Minister may have to face a political reckoning sooner than expected as public dissention grows.
( With inputs from agencies )