September, Thursday 19, 2024

Outrage in India as Trudeau blames Hardeep Singh Nijjar for murder


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India is currently experiencing a strong backlash against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he accused Delhi of being involved in the death of a Canadian Sikh leader. Trudeau stated that Canadian intelligence was investigating "credible allegations potentially linking" the Indian state to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh activist advocating for a separate homeland. India has vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as "absurd." This has led to a significant deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries, with many Indian analysts, politicians, and commentators expressing their outrage on social media. The social media backlash against Canada and Trudeau has been intense, with hashtags related to the controversy trending on various platforms. Users have praised Delhi for giving a "befitting reply" to Canada and some have claimed that the Indian government has "put Trudeau in his place." Several Indian news websites have also highlighted India's aggressive response to Canada, using headlines that describe it as a "thrashing" and a "savage reply." Even India's main opposition party, Congress, which has often clashed with the ruling government, has expressed its support in this particular case. The party stated that there should be "no compromise of any kind in our country's fight against terrorism," especially when it threatens India's sovereignty, unity, and integrity. The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader, sparked intense debate in India. He was shot dead by two masked gunmen in June in the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara car park in Surrey, British Columbia. Delhi has previously labeled him as a terrorist and denied any involvement in his murder. Many Indian analysts believe that Trudeau's allegations will further strain relations between India and Canada. Critics have accused Trudeau of pandering for Sikh votes, as Canada is home to a large Sikh diaspora. Smita Prakash of the Asian News International (ANI) news agency argued that Trudeau's bias and blame towards Indian authorities have undermined the investigation and judicial process. Overall, the Canada-India relationship has suffered significant strain in recent months. Trudeau's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit was described as "frosty," and trade talks between the two countries have been called off. Additionally, Trudeau's extended stay in Delhi due to a problem with his aircraft was widely reported in the media, which further contributed to the negative portrayal of his trip.