Canadian Prime Minister left red-faced as he admits that he has no evidence, after accusing Indian involvement in the assassination of a pro-Khalistani extremist.

Relations between Canada and India have sharply deteriorated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims regarding Indian involvement in the assassination of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Trudeau’s accusations, which alleged that Indian agents were responsible for the killing, have sparked a significant diplomatic row between the two nations.
India has consistently denied these accusations, with the Indian government dismissing them as “ludicrous” and criticising the Trudeau administration for failing to present any substantial evidence to support the claims. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has emphasised that the allegations were baseless and part of a broader effort to distract from domestic issues within Canada.
Critics of Trudeau suggest that his accusations may have more to do with internal political motivations than international concerns. There are growing suspicions that Trudeau, whose political fortunes have been waning, is trying to align himself with the New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Jagmeet Singh, which has been accused of being sympathetic to the Khalistani separatist movement. This movement advocates for a separate Sikh state, and Nijjar, who was killed in British Columbia in 2023, was a vocal supporter of the cause, which India views as extremist.
Some observers believe that Trudeau’s alliance with the NDP, a party seen by some as backing pro-Khalistani elements, is part of an attempt to shore up his political base amid growing challenges. Critics argue that this “unholy alliance” is driven by electoral concerns and an effort to cover up years of alleged misgovernance by the Trudeau administration. There are fears that this could deepen divisions within Canada, particularly targeting the country’s Hindu population, who have expressed concerns over increasing pro-Khalistani sentiment.
In a surprising development, Trudeau recently admitted that Canada had no hard evidence linking India to Nijjar’s killing. This admission has raised further questions about the motivations behind the initial accusations and the future of Canada-India relations.
The diplomatic fallout from these unproven allegations has already seen India expel Canadian diplomats and issue travel advisories for its citizens visiting Canada. The tensions have put a strain on trade and cooperation between the two countries, both of which had previously enjoyed a stable relationship.
As the situation unfolds, Trudeau faces increasing scrutiny, both domestically and internationally, for his handling of the issue. Meanwhile, Canada’s Indo-Hindu community remains anxious about the potential consequences of this diplomatic crisis, fearing that they may become collateral damage in the escalating political tensions between the two nations.