OTTAWA, ONTARIO (Diya TV) — A recent decision by the Canadian authorities to give entry to a Sikh man who had been accused of sheltering and feeding Khalistani militants in India has raised questions about the manner in which Canada is tackling issues related to the Khalistan movement.
The man, whose name is not being made public for security reasons, has had a long standing court battle regarding his immigration documents before migrating to Canada. In India, he was accused of hosting people connected with the secessionist movement for a sovereign Sikh nation. While India has charged him with breaking their laws, Canadian authorities have offered him asylum on human rights grounds.
Critics assert allowing such people to enter Canada compromises the sincerity of their nation in the fight against extremism and upholding national security. They posit the settling of such migrants in Canada might embolden the drives of separatists. Canadian authorities claim the judgment made is commensurate with the human rights tenets and the tenets of asylum.
For a long time, the Khalistan movement, which envisions a state for Sikhs in India separate from India, has been a source of tension between India and Canada. The accusation against Canada by India all along has been its harboring of extremists, while officials of the country stress the freedom of speech and assembly, even for controversial political movements.
In the last few months, relations between the two countries have been strained, especially after accusations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India had been involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The government of India rejected those claims, saying Nijjar was a terrorist and had links with violent separatist activities.
This new development further complicates the already deeply challenged relationship between India and Canada.
