“Our Hope Is…”: After Trudeau Exit, India Recalls “Licence To Extremists”

Days after Mark Carney changed Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada, India, on Friday, recalled “the downturn in India-Canada relations”. New Delhi squarely blamed the “licence given to extremists” underneath Justin Trudeau for the strained ties, hoping to rebuild them after the change in Canada’s management.

Justin Trudeau’s ouster was full final week when Canada’s ruling Liberal Celebration changed him with a brand new prime minister. A wholly new Cupboard was sworn in on March 14. Each Ottawa and New Delhi now hope to rebuild ties, which at present are at a historic low.

On a query relating to Canada at a weekly press briefing, India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs as we speak stated that “The downturn in India-Canada relations was attributable to the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist parts within the nation”, including that “Our hope is that we will rebuild our ties based mostly on mutual belief and sensitivity.”

#WATCH | Delhi: On India-Canada relations, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “The downturn in India-Canada relations was attributable to the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist parts within the nation. Our hope is that we will rebuild our ties based mostly on… pic.twitter.com/on36QS3aYr

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025

Shortly earlier than taking oath as Prime Minister, Mark Carney had additionally expressed his keenness to construct on ties with “like-minded nations” and had known as the chance to rebuild ties with India as an “alternative” he want to work on.

“What Canada can be seeking to do is to diversify our buying and selling relationships with like-minded nations – and there are alternatives to rebuild the connection with India. There must be a shared sense of values round that industrial relationship, and as soon as I’m the prime minister, I look ahead to the chance to construct that,” he had stated.

DOWNTURN IN INDIA-CANADA TIES UNDER JUSTIN TRUDEAU

Ties between India and Canada noticed a pointy decline after a surge in incidents of radicalisation and extremism by rogue parts of ‘Khalistani’ separatist teams, which Justin Trudeau permitted, describing them as “free speech” and “freedom of expression”. Effigies of a former Indian prime minister had been allowed to be burnt, the Indian flag desecrated and disrespected, Indian Embassy and Consulate employees and premises being threatened and attacked overtly, and audio and video clips of India-declared terrorists overtly threatening hijacks and assaults on Indian soil, are only a few examples of what occurred.

Final yr, Justin Trudeau had additionally attended an occasion the place ‘Khalistan’ slogans had been raised as he addressed the gathering. On a number of events, Mr Trudeau had, “and not using a shred of proof”, accused India of orchestrating the killing of ‘Khalistani’ separatist and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Justin Trudeau’s authorities had additionally designated the Indian Excessive Commissioner and different embassy officers as “individuals of curiosity” within the investigation over the Nijjar case. He was later declared a “persona non grata” by Trudeau’s authorities, after which New Delhi recalled the then incumbent excessive commissioner over Canada “going too far”. In a tit-for-tat transfer, India despatched Canadian excessive fee officers packing house as ties got here to a near-standstill.

Later, when Mr Trudeau admitted publicly that he had “no laborious evidentiary proof” of the involvement of Indian authorities officers within the killing of Hardeep Nijjar, New Delhi responded by saying that “The duty for the harm that this cavalier behaviour has induced to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone.”

For months, India had repeatedly urged Ottawa to “cease offering felony and secessionist parts a protected haven” in Canada.

“Celebration and glorification of violence shouldn’t be part of any civilized society. Democratic nations which respect the rule of regulation shouldn’t enable intimidation by radical parts within the identify of freedom of expression,” India’s overseas ministry had stated.

Blaming Justin Trudeau for catering to a vote bank, Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had stated final yr that “By permitting political house to ‘Khalistani’ separatist parts, the Canadian authorities (led by Justin Trudeau) is repeatedly displaying that its vote financial institution is extra highly effective than its rule of regulation.”

“India respects and practices freedom of speech, however that doesn’t equate with freedom to threaten overseas diplomats, prolong help to separatism or enable political house to parts advocating violence and terror,” he had stated.