Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of supporting criminal activities against Canadians. According to Trudeau, the Indian government made a fundamental error in thinking it could engage in such activities without repercussions. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme and his deputy, Brigitte Gauvin, have named the Bishnoi Gang, an organized crime group, as being connected to agents of the Indian government.

They allege that these agents have used organized crime elements to collect information and target the South Asian community in Canada. When asked if these agents were being accused of serious crimes such as homicide, extortion, intimidation, and coercion, Commissioner Duheme confirmed that they were.

In response to these allegations, Canada has called for the expulsion of high-level Indian diplomats, including the Indian High Commissioner, Sanjay Verma, suggesting that they are persons of interest in the ongoing investigation. This move has further strained the already tense relations between the two countries.

Indias Response

The Indian government has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them preposterous imputations and attributing them to the political agenda of the Trudeau government. India has criticized Canada for not providing any evidence to substantiate the claims, despite multiple requests. Since Trudeaus initial allegations in September 2023, the Canadian government has not shared any evidence with India.

India has also accused the Trudeau government of harboring individuals with extremist and separatist agendas. They claim that Trudeaus cabinet includes individuals who openly support a separatist ideology concerning India. Furthermore, India has criticized Trudeau for his interference in Indian internal politics and for providing a platform for violent extremists and terrorists to operate freely in Canada.

The allegations and subsequent diplomatic fallout have broader implications for the already strained Indo-Canadian relations. The Indian government has taken note of the activities of the Canadian High Commission in India, accusing it of serving the political agenda of the current Canadian regime. This situation highlights the complexities of international diplomacy, where allegations of criminal activities can quickly escalate into significant diplomatic disputes.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s Death

Canadian and Indian diplomatic ties have been strained since pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in front of a Gurudwara in Vancouver. Canada had alleged Indian Governments involvement in the assassination but did not provide any form of evidence according to India. India also vehemently denied any involvement in the incident. Nijjar was designated a terrorist by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2020.

Nijjar was a vocal advocate for a homeland for Sikhs and was linked to a bomb blast in a movie theatre in 2007 that killed six people, around the time that he became a Canadian Citizen. He was also linked to the banned extremist organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Who is Lawrence Bishnoi?

Lawrence Bishnoi is a notorious Indian gangster, born on February 12, 1993, in Ferozpur, Punjab. He has been involved in numerous criminal activities, including murder and extortion, and has over two dozen criminal cases against him.

Bishnoi first gained significant attention due to his threats against Bollywood actor Salman Khan, stemming from the 1998 blackbuck poaching incident. He has also been linked to the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and other high-profile crimes.

Currently, Bishnoi is jailed in Gujarats Sabarmati Jail. Despite being in prison, he continues to carry out criminal activities, including the recent murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique.