Following months of diplomatic tension and controversy, a Canadian commission report has concluded there is "no definitive link" between India and the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Released on January 30, 2025, by the Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference, this finding heavily contradicts allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who claimed to have credible evidence of Indian involvement during his explosive accusations back in September 2023.
Nijjar was assassinated on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Trudeau's assertions triggered significant political fallout, including the mutual expulsion of diplomats and criticisms from India, which labelled Trudeau's claims as "absurd." The commission's 123-page report aimed to investigate foreign interference and its potential impact on Canadian electoral processes.
Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue stated, "No definitive link to foreign state could be proven," emphasizing the lack of evidence to support Trudeau's claims. Although the report acknowledged the possibility of disinformation campaigns emanated from India as retaliation against the Prime Minister's statement, it reiterated the absence of concrete proof establishing foreign involvement. "This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign... though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven," Hogue noted.
The inquiry also examined the events surrounding the expulsion of six Indian diplomats from Canada accused of targeting Canadian citizens linked to the Indian government. Following the expulsion, India reacted by expelling six Canadian diplomats and recalling its high commissioner, exacerbated diplomatic relations between the two nations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs stressed the absurdity of the commission's insinuations, claiming, "It is Canada which has been consistently interfering..." This assertion reflects India's long-standing allegation against the Trudeau administration of tolerantly allowing anti-India sentiments to flourish among pro-Khalistani elements within Canada.
The report reflects the challenges facing Canada, as Trudeau's credibility has taken a significant hit following these revelations, raising questions about the political motives behind his earlier claims.
Since the onset of these tensions, the Khalistani movement, which aims for a separate Sikh state within India, has gained traction among certain sections of the Sikh diaspora, particularly within Canada. While India categorically rejects the Khalistani narrative, Trudeau’s accusations have drawn scrutiny over his government's handling of domestic Sikh issues.
While the commission report admitted to India's possible use of disinformation tactics as retribution for Trudeau's charges, it failed to provide substantive evidence of foreign interference, effectively dismantling Trudeau's narrative and leaving him scrambling for justification over his reckless approach to foreign diplomacy.
The inquiry’s conclusions cast doubt on Trudeau's leadership and point to the potential fallout Canada will face, not just internationally but domestically as well. With increased scrutiny on his administration’s foreign policy decisions, there are calls for accountability and clarity on how such allegations were pushed without substantiated proof.
Trudeau’s government now faces continued criticism over their stance on anti-India sentiments and the growing pro-Khalistani movements within Canada, with suggestions Canada may need to reevaluate how it addresses these issues to prevent future diplomatic crises. With the report marking a pivotal moment for Canada-India relations, it remains to be seen how the Trudeau administration will navigate the fallout from these events.
The findings of the report signal not only the challenges of maintaining diplomatic integrity but suggest pressing questions surrounding who controls the narrative within the political discourse—both within Canada and abroad.
The inquiry has rendered Trudeau’s allegations and subsequent actions increasingly untenable, raising the stakes for future diplomatic relations and urging both governments to find common ground to restore trust and credibility.