NEW DELHI: The central government on Friday said it is ready to rebuild ties with Canada, which has taken a hit over Ottawa harbouring anti-India elements.
The ministry of external affairs said the downturn in relations between both nations was caused by the Trudeau-led Canadian government giving license to the extremist and secessionist elements.
“The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing.
Over the past several months, relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have experienced significant strain, primarily due to the presence of Khalistanis, who actively work against India’s national security.
In October 2024, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh separatist leader, in British Columbia.
This allegation led to a diplomatic crisis, with both nations expelling senior diplomats. Canada’s federal police claimed to have credible evidence of Indian agents engaging in illegal activities on Canadian soil, including intelligence gathering and interference in democratic processes.
The situation further deteriorated when demonstrations near a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, were dispersed by police after weapons were reportedly spotted among participants. This event followed a violent protest involving Khalistani terrorists opposing a visit from Indian consular officials.
In response to these developments, India invoked the provision of parity in Canada’s diplomatic presence, citing concerns over interference in its affairs by Canadian personnel.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar stated that the relationship between the two countries was going through a difficult phase and indicated that India might resume issuing visas to Canadians if there was progress in ensuring the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada.
However, Justin Trudeau on January 6 announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party, citing internal conflicts that hindered his ability to effectively lead into the next election.
The chances of improvement in ties appeared after Mark Carney was named the new Canadian Prime Minister. Carney has, in the past, expressed a positive outlook on India, particularly regarding its economic growth and commitment to clean energy.