The Canada - India Crisis and Its Implications

Image credit- google

Recently, there has been unrest between Canada and India due to certain allegations put forth by the former that has spiraled to concerning levels. Here is everything you need to know about it, and the Implications it has on human rights.

---

How It Started

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau declares the existence of "credible " evidence making India responsible for the Assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (“Explainer: What’s behind the Growing Tensions between Canada and India?”)

According to The guardian, "On 18 June this year Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

Nijjar had campaigned for an independent Sikh nation – known as Khalistan – to be carved out of India’s Punjab state. He was wanted by Indian authorities and had been designated as a “terrorist” in July 2020.

He had been warned by Canada’s spy agency about threats against him, according to the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which alleged he was “assassinated in a targeted shooting”.

India’s Punjab state – which is about 58% Sikh and 39% Hindu – was rocked by a violent Khalistan separatist movement in the 1980s and early 1990s, in which thousands of people died. Today, that movement’s most vocal advocates are primarily among the Punjabi overseas diaspora."

India denied any such allegations and called them "absurd" (“India Warns Citizens in Canada to Be Cautious”)

2 major deals between Canada and India have been affected

Canada paused trade talks with India and the defence deal with them had almost been cancelled.

Expulsion of key diplomats, suspension of Canadian visas, and advisory to citizens (“India Warns Citizens in Canada to Be Cautious”)

In response to Canada expelling a major Indian Diplomat, India suspended all Canadian visas. It also issued a safety advisory to all Indian citizens and students in Canada, urging them to exercise utmost caution due to the growing hate against Indians there.

---

Pausing The Trade Talks

Canada has paused all trade relations with India, and here are certain ways it could impact both countries:

Image credit- CNBC

Visa and travel implications (Bryden-Blom)

India has suspended all Canadian visas and this can affect citizens in two ways:

1- Canada has a lot of Indian residents who will not me able to meet their family

2- Canada relies on India for a lot of tech-related support. This will greatly affect the tech sector in Canada and experts say there will be fewer deals between both the countries.

Additionally, on Canada's official travel advisory, they warn citizens of 'terrorist activity' in India.

The Indian travel advisory warns its citizens of potential hate crimes.

International Students (Bryden-Blom)

Canadian universities have a huge number of Indian Students who have been advised by the Indian government to be wary of growing hate crimes against Indians. It hence raises significant safety concerns for them.

Canada's trade may take a hit

"Experts suggest that Canada’s already lagging trade with India could take a hit from increasingly tense relations, including the potential for India to impose punitive measures in response to the allegations leveled against it." Quoting an article. (Barber), 'India’s vital economic status means Canada will be the loser if crisis escalates'

The country has had $5.6 billion in exports to India and a roughly $21 billion in investments, and the pulse and tech industry both heavily rely on India. This could greatly affect Canada's GDP. (Kirby et al.) Quoting economic times, "Bilateral trade between India and Canada has grown significantly in recent years, reaching $8.16 billion in 2022-23, PTI noted. India's exports ($4.1 billion) to Canada include pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, textiles, and machinery, while Canada's exports to India ($4.06 billion) include pulses, timber, pulp and paper, and mining products." (“Does India-Canada’s Flaring Tensions Risk Multi-Billion Trade, Investment Ties?”)

Recession

Canada is looking at a massive recession, and due to its heavy reliance on India for the tech, agriculture, and trade industry and its significant investments in India, its GDP could be affected, worsening its recession (Dyer and Panetta), (“India-Canada Trade Talk Paused: Why Relations between the Two Have Soured”),(Bikis and Hudes), (PTI)

---

The Indo-Pacific Strategy

Image credit- Asia Pacific foundation of Canada

Current Scientific Corporation had signed a ca$5 million deal with Indian Navy in accordance to Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy. This has been one of the most significant deals between the Indian Army and a Canadian company. The Global Affairs of Canada is responsible for a five month delay in giving the company permission and did so only hours before the deadline, by when the National Post had already reported this crisis.

Canada has declared India a "critical partner in Canada's pursuit" for this policy. However, this delay will significantly strain trade relationships, any further defense co-orperations, and strategic partnerships between the two countries. (Bhattacharyya)

---

Human Right Implications

These are the ways this crisis could exploit and endanger multiple human rights (Dyer and Panetta)

1. Rights of immigrants and Indian students due to the suspension of visas

2. Economic rights of workers could be violated due to Canada pausing trade deals with India

---

As we stand and watch these allegations unfold, the final verdict will leave a mark on both the countries' reputation.

While we cannot draw a conclusion on which country is right or wrong in this conflict, Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has said:

"Let's not fool ourselves, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was not simply a plumber any more than Osama Bin Laden was a construction engineer. He had blood on his hands through multiple attacks. And therefore, while Secretary Blinken may after the facts, say that the United States will always stand against transnational oppression. We're actually being hypocritical if Secretary Blinken makes that statement because after all, what we're talking about isn't transnational repression. We're talking about transnational terrorism and what the United States did to Qasem Soleimani and what the United States did to Osama Bin Laden is really no different than what India is alleged to have done in this case."

The Indian Government also considers Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Terrorist, and he is allegedly responsible for multiple killings in Punjab and has had ties with KCF, KTF, and has planned terror attacks in Punjab.(Chauhan), (Sharma), (“Nijjar Took Training in Pakistan, Backed Terrorist Activities across India, Claims Fresh Intelligence Report - OrissaPOST”), (Gupta), But as we watch the events of this crisis unfold, one thing is certain: human rights of multiple individuals involved are at stake, and we must project them at all costs.

Author's note: In-text citation has been provided wherever appropriate. However, to review all the sources used, you can view detailed citations by clicking on the button below. We have used MLA 9 as required by Cambridge. If we have unknowingly missed out on a citation, feel free to mail us regarding the same.

View citations