The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau’s aggressive approach towards declining domestic popularity ratings and mounting opposition, which is perceived to have felt more necessity to court the politically influential Sikh community in advance of the next year’s federal elections.
An Ipsos poll revealed, just 26% respondents saw Trudeau as the best Pm candidate, 19 percentage points below Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, among complaints over rising cost of living, a falling healthcare system, and an increasing crime rate. This follows two defeats in the elections. Three months after losing a special election in Torronto, where they had held the seat for thirty years, the ruling liberty party suffered a setback in Montreal, which was considered a safe seat. Jagmeet Singh’s , the supporter of Khalistan, New Democratic Party withdrew support to the minority Liberal government before Montral loss.
Trudeau’s fellow party members have called for his resignation as many experts believe the Liberals will end up in the same situation as the Conservatives in the UK. After withstanding two no-confidence motions, Trudeau is still in the office.
Strained Relations with India
India has never trusted on Trudeau’s stance on pro-Khalistan separatists. In 2018, PM Modi met him on the sixth day of his first official visit to country during a controversy over an invitation for dinner at Canadian high commission to businessmen Jaspal Atwal. When the invitation was withdrawn, Trudeau sought to distance himself from the controversy. However, there was no change as Trudeau government refused repress on protest.
After the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi in 1984, Canadian Government refused to stop public vote on Khalistan.
Low Point Relations in 2023
Low point relations occurred when Justin Trudeau accused the involvement of “Indian agents” in killing the terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. India not only denied the allegations but also requested for solid evidence, which Canadian government refused to provide.
Past relations with Trudeau
This drift between the two countries is not from now but from early 1980s when former PM, Pierre Trudeau, accused of mishandling with New Delhi as government failed to act against Khalistani extremists. The rift also includes the case of Talwinder Singh Parmar and 1985 Kanishka bombing.
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