DNA Edit: Khalistan spectre

Ideally, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ongoing visit should have been an occasion for the firming up of ties and widening the scope of bilateral engagements. Instead, it has turned controversial, with India taking strong exception to Canada’s patronage of Khalistani extremists and other separatist fringe groups. During his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, which had been reportedly fruitful, Trudeau had assured the CM of taking tough action against Canada-based operatives allegedly involved in promoting radicalism in Punjab. But a major diplomatic gaffe seems to threaten that positive outcome.

It underscores what is widely believed to be Canada’s traditionally soft approach to radical elements who are inimical to India’s integrity, and the gap between the walk and talk of its PM. Jaspal Atwal, who was found guilty of trying to kill a Punjab minister and was sentenced to 20 years in jail, had not only attended a Mumbai event held in Trudeau’s honour, but was also photographed with Prime Minister’s wife Sophie Trudeau and Canadian minister Amarjeet Sohi. He was, in fact, supposed to attend a similar event in Delhi on Thursday, which could have been further embarrassing for both India and Canada.

Atwal, whose involvement in Canadian politics at both the provincial and federal level has increased in recent years, was also part of an auto-fraud ring. What begs a question is: How did Atwal get a visa to India and invitation to attend the events? Was it not laxity on India’s part as well since officials didn’t bother to check his criminal antecedents? It’s fair to say that both sides were caught napping. But the larger question of Trudeau’s commitment to tackling anti-Indian forces, however minuscule their numbers might be, will play a vital role in shaping India-Canada ties.

The Sikhs in Canada make up for 1.4 per cent of Canada’s population. In Punjab, it’s still considered a default destination for migration. At the height of the Khalistan movement in the mid-70s to early 80s, and the wave of suppression that followed, many Sikhs had fled to Canada in search of asylum. Many of them simply wanted to escape the legal consequences of their violent activities. Back then, Pakistan, unable to swallow its defeat in the Bangladesh Liberation War, had been playing a dangerous role in engineering dissent in Punjab.

Crucially, even today, radical forces sitting in Canada continue to foment unrest among Punjab’s disgruntled youth. Alarmed by this vicious remote-controlling, CM Singh furnished details of these groups to PM Trudeau. If he is truly sincere about Canada’s “support for a united India, stressing the desire to see positive collaboration on issues of mutual concern”, it would entail rattling a prosperous Sikh community that has been his vote-bank. It pays to bear in mind that at one point Canada was also a safe haven for LTTE terrorists and masterminds. Trudeau meeting with PM Modi should be able to clear much of the bad blood that has been generated. Till then, it’s best to keep fingers crossed.