Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Ajay Bisaria, discussed the Khalistani elements’ influence on Canadian politics. He called it a “disproportionate capture” by a sharp and strategic group. Bisaria’s remark must be seen against the backdrop of Canada’s April 28 elections. He said that although the Khalistani groups have now existed for over 40 years, they will not be a significant role player in Canadian elections.
The former Indian High Commissioner discussed an “anti-India Khalistani group” in Canada in an interview with news agency ANI. He said that while this group was a “reality”, it didn’t hold importance in Canada’s national elections to sway it in any way.
“There is a certain capture—a disproportionate capture — by a very smart and active anti-India Khalistani group. But this is a structural reality in Canadian politics for four decades. We have seen this in operation for a while, and these folks have a certain capture, but this election is not about them. I mean, they will not be a major determinant of the fate of the April 28 elections, because I would argue that this election is about Trump,” said Bisaria.
Bisaria also discussed how he was hopeful about improved India-Canada relations.
“The broader point I am making is that we are at an inflection point and if Canada is talking in its national interest and not in the interest of a small vocal minority, which is smart at capturing parts of the polity, I would say that after the election, we still have good prospects to build this relationship, exchanging high commissioners possibly, even signing a trade agreement,” he said.
He also shared that this was the time to stabilise Indo-Canada relations.
“I would argue that this is a time to stabilise the relationship and normalise it, not withstanding this 40-year problem of vocal Khalistanis trying to queer the pitch,” Bisaria added.
Trudeau’s successor, Mike Carney, has also spoken about a Canada-India thaw.
Before he was elected to succeed Justin Trudeau as the next Prime Minister of Canada, Carney had also hinted of “rebuilding relationships with India” if he assumed the top post after ties between the two nations soured significantly over the killing of wanted Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
In a video that resurfaced after Carney was named Trudeau’s successor both as Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Party, the former Goldman Sachs executive talks about “diversifying Canada’s trade relations with like-minded countries”.
“There are also opportunities to rebuild relationships with India. There needs to be a shared sense of values around that commercial relationship. If I am Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that,” he said in March.
