Relations between Canada and India have been under pressure for years, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have quarreled over Sikh separatist elements in this country.
Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India — about 770,000 people, or about 2.1 per cent of the country’s population, according to federal data.
Some of those Sikh Canadians (experts suggest they make up a relatively small share of the whole) support the creation of a separate Sikh homeland independent from India. They have sent money and resources to support the cause and have staged unofficial referendums here in Canada, actions that have been condemned by India’s leadership.
Trudeau, like his predecessors, has said Canada supports a “united India.”
He hasn’t cracked down on Sikh separatist discourse, despite intense Indian pressure to do so. Some Sikh Canadians have defended the push for an independent “Khalistan” as a peaceful movement for greater Sikh autonomy in India.
The fractious relationship came to a head last fall when Trudeau said publicly that Canadian authorities have been “actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link” between agents working for the Indian government and the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside his Surrey, B.C. gurdwara in June 2023.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. In a statement responding to queries about making India part of her mandate probing foreign interference, the Privy Council Office has indicated Nijjar’s killing is a matter of criminal investigation by the RCMP. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
India rejected Trudeau’s claim as “absurd” and accused Canadians of interfering in “internal matters.” Both countries subsequently kicked out each other’s diplomats.
On Friday, Canadian police arrested members of a hit squad alleged to have carried out the Nijjar killing. Investigators have said they believe the alleged assassins were retained by the Indian government.
Speaking to Punjabi media in Canada on the Sunday before those arrests, Trudeau said the Nijjar investigation will reveal some “very, very clear things that everyone around the world — including in India — will see as to the responsibilities and involvement.”
Here is a timeline of some of the events that have complicated Canada’s bilateral relationship with India, the world’s largest democracy.
February 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau comes in for criticism after a troubled trip to India — a week-long visit meant to bolster relations with the world’s largest democracy.
Trudeau had intended to use the trip to smooth over long-simmering tensions about support for Sikh separatism in the Canadian diaspora, and to bolster Canada’s relatively weak trading relationship with India.
The invitation, while not sanctioned by Trudeau, is a diplomatic embarrassment.
WATCH: Trudeau doing damage control on India trip
Trudeau doing damage control on India trip
6 years ago
Duration 5:39
Justin Trudeau has been in damage control mode on his India trip following the revelation that a man convicted of attempting to kill a politician was invited to an event with the Canadian prime minister. Jaspal Atwal, a former member of a Sikh extremist group who was convicted in 1986 for the attempted assassination of an Indian politician, was also photographed with Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau. It’s just the latest bit of controversy on a trip that’s already been heavily criticized for a lack of purpose by pundits and Trudeau’s opponents
Trudeau and his family are also mocked for wearing traditional Indian garb during the visit, which attracts negative scrutiny at home and abroad.
June 2023
Trudeau’s national security adviser accuses India of being one of the top sources of foreign interference in Canada, a public designation Ottawa had largely limited to authoritarian states up to that point.
In early June, India’s foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, criticizes Canada for allowing a float in a parade depicting the 1984 assassination of then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards. India sees the float as an effort to glorify violence by Sikh separatists.
Two weeks later, on the evening of June 18, Sikh community leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar is shot dead outside his gurdwara in Surrey, B.C. Congregants immediately call his killing a politically motivated attack.
WATCH: Crowds gather at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., after fatal shooting
Crowds gather at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., after fatal shooting
11 months ago
Duration 0:17
Members of B.C.’s Sikh community say gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was targeted by gunmen in the temple’s parking lot.
Nijjar’s death leads to heated protests against Indian officials throughout the summer.
The group Sikhs for Justice calls for people to “besiege” Indian consulates and offers cash rewards for the home addresses of Indian diplomats.
September 2023
In an unexpected move, Canada pauses talks on a proposed trade treaty with India. International Trade Minister Mary Ng also postpones a mission to India, planned for October.
There is visible tension in New Delhi between Trudeau and Modi during the G20 leaders’ summit.
A week later, on Sept. 18, Trudeau reveals that Canadian intelligence agencies are “pursuing credible allegations of a potential link” between India’s government and Nijjar’s death.
WATCH: Canadians have a ‘right to know’ about allegations linking India to killing of Sikh leader: Trudeau
Canadians have a ‘right to know’ about allegations linking India to killing of Sikh leader
8 months ago
Duration 2:11
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is not looking to ‘provoke or escalate’ after he said in the House of Commons there were credible allegations linking India to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian who backed the creation of a Sikh homeland in India.
India subsequently restricts visas for Canadians ahead of the country’s wedding season. It ultimately restores visa access in November.
New Delhi says it had concerns about the safety of its diplomats in Canada, despite Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma saying weeks before that he had no such concerns.
India brands Canada a “safe haven for terrorists, extremists” and “anti-India activities.”
Sources tell CBC News the Canadian government had amassed both human and signals intelligence, including communications involving Indian officials and Indian diplomats present in Canada, as part of the investigation into Nijjar’s killing. Some of the intelligence was provided by an unnamed ally in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, according to the sources.
October 2023
India cancels diplomatic immunity for 41 Canadian diplomats, along with security protection for their relatives.
That effectively forces two-thirds of Canada’s diplomats in the country to go home.
WATCH: India’s move on diplomats ‘contrary to international law,’ PM says
India’s move on diplomats ‘contrary to international law,’ PM says
7 months ago
Duration 2:41
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government of India’s move to revoke diplomatic immunity from dozens of Canadian staff posted there is a violation of international law and something countries all over the world should be worried about.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly decries the move but pledges to hold further conversations with India in private.
November 2023
A New York court unseals an indictment alleging a foiled murder-for-hire plot led by an Indian diplomat against a Sikh separatist earlier that year.
WATCH: Indian PM makes first remarks about assassination plot claims
Indian PM makes first remarks about assassination plot claims
5 months ago
Duration 2:06
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he will ‘look into any evidence’ that his country planned the assassination of perceived enemies on Canadian and American soil — his first remarks on the matter since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought them out publicly in August.
American officials allege the organizers behind the plot were pondering three other assassinations in Canada, including that of Nijjar.
January 2024
The independent inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian affairs asks Ottawa to share information about possible meddling by India in elections.
New Delhi rejects the suggestion it is behind any such acts and repeats its longstanding view that Canada allows Sikh separatists to intervene in its affairs.
March 2024
Bloomberg reports that the Indian government gave the U.S. a report which acknowledges that Indian agents were involved in the U.S. murder plot, but claims they were rogue operatives.
Exclusive security video obtained by CBC’s The Fifth Estate reveals the elements of the highly co-ordinated attack that ended with the killing of Nijjar.
WATCH: Surveillance video of the attack on Nijjar
Exclusive surveillance video of the targeted killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023.
2 months ago
Duration 1:22
The Fifth Estate shows how the killing of a Sikh Canadian activist was carried out, allegedly by agents of the government of India.
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Pearce and Nathan Saliba scored in the second half — the first goals of their careers — and CF Montreal rallied for a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Wednesday night.
“In the second half, the guys came out a little more ambitious and above all, more connected,” Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “It was a great second half of resilience and fighting spirit. Nathan and Sam were impressive.
“Impressive in covering the gaps and compensating for the teammates, and the individual defending – yes it’s true, it is a lot of weight on their shoulders, but that’s the job.”
New England (8-16-4) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on Bobby Wood’s third goal of the season. Teenage defender Peyton Miller notched his first assist in his fourth career start and sixth appearance and Carles Gil picked up his ninth of the season. Peyton, at 16 years, 315 days old, is the eighth youngest player in league history to record his first assist.
The Revolution took a two-goal lead in the 35th minute and held it through halftime when 19-year-old Esmir Bajraktarevic took a pass from Gil and scored his third goal of the season and career in his first full season in the league. It was the 73rd regular-season assist in Gil’s career, tying him with Steve Ralston for the most in club history.
Montreal (7-12-10) pulled within a goal in the 54th minute when Pearce scored off a free kick after defender George Campbell drew a foul on New England’s Mark-Anthony Kaye. It was the first goal for Pearce in his third career start and fourth appearance.
“Playoffs are the goal. Maybe it wasn’t in the best form, but in the end, we are picking up a point,” Pearce said. “We came into this game confident, ready to play our own game. Everyone tries their best, whenever the players are called on, we are always ready, and we are always giving it our best.”
Montreal scored the equalizer in the 68th minute on the first career goal by Saliba, a 20-year-old midfielder. Saliba has made 34 starts and 48 appearances with Montreal in his two seasons in the league. Campbell snagged his second assist of the season and the third of his career.
“It’s an incredible feeling, it’s a goal I’ve been waiting for a long time. I’m extremely happy that I was able to score it and that it can help the team take this important point on the road,” Saliba said. “Pearce’s first goal gave us really good momentum and we kept up the pressure to go for a second goal. We got more solid defensively, and we came back ready after halftime, to push for these 3 points.”
Aljaz Ivacic finished with four saves in goal for the Revolution.
Jonathan Sirois stopped four shots for Montreal.
New England beat Montreal 5-0 on the road on Aug. 24.
New England leads the all-time series 16-13-4. Montreal improves to 5-8-2 on the road against the Revs.
The Revolution travel to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday. Montreal returns home to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, Cody Bradford pitched seven strong innings after the worst start of his career, and the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday night.
The win kept the defending World Series-champion Rangers alive in the AL West race, trailing first-place Houston by 10 games with 10 to play.
García launched an inside sinker over the left-field wall off Toronto starter Bowden Francis (8-5) after Wyatt Langford singled.
“He swings hard, he swings a lot,” Francis said of García. “I guess the velo was dropping during that time.”
Bradford (6-3) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six.
The seven shutout innings are the most in a game during his two-year career. He was knocked out of his previous start after allowing career highs in hits (nine), runs (eight) and homers (three) in 3 2/3 innings in a 14-4 loss at Arizona.
“Throughout the week, you’ve got to try and digest what happened, see where I can make adjustments, whether it was just game plan went wrong or just poor execution, or a little bit of both,” Bradford said. “Then you flush it.”
Bradford was perfect through four innings before Alejandro Kirk opened the fifth with a smash back to the mound that caromed off Bradford’s left foot and rolled into right field for a single. It extended Kirk’s hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.
Spencer Horwitz’s double to left-center put runners on second and third with no outs before Bradford retired the next three batters.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider credited Bradford’s “deceptive fastball.”
“When you’re throwing 89, 92, you’ve got to have pretty good deception with that at this level,” Schneider said. “Kept us off balance.”
Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
Francis, who took no-hitters into the ninth inning in two of his previous four starts, allowed a double to Marcus Semien, the Rangers’ first hitter of the game. He gave up five hits and one walk in six innings.
Francis has a 1.96 ERA in nine starts with 54 strikeouts and seven walks since being moved back into the starting rotation in late July.
“I don’t even want to get complacent, on cruise control,” Francis said. “Just keep attacking.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was a late scratch with a right middle finger contusion suffered during infield practice. Schneider said the team will get back x-rays on Thursday. Bichette was activated Tuesday following a calf injury and played for the first time in two months, going 2 for 5 with one RBI at the plate. … INF Will Wagner (left knee inflammation) will have the knee scoped on Thursday. Schneider said Wagner should be ready to start spring training. Wagner, son of former major leaguer Billy Wagner, was acquired from Houston at the trade deadline.
UP NEXT
Rangers rookie RHP Kumar Rocker (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his home debut against Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (12-11, 4.02) in the series finale. Rocker allowed one run in four innings at Seattle last Thursday in his major league debut.
