Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed readiness to collaborate with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite ongoing tensions over the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau’s message came shortly after a Canadian parliamentary panel reported that India poses the second biggest foreign threat to Canada’s democracy, following China.
“Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his electoral victory. Canada stands ready to work with its government to advance the relationship between our nations’ peoples—anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law,” Trudeau stated.
The diplomatic row between Canada and India intensified following accusations by Canadian authorities that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar’s murder in Surrey last year. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot dead outside a Gurdwara. New Delhi has dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Amid these tensions, Trudeau emphasized his government’s commitment to addressing foreign interference, noting the importance of protecting Canadian democratic institutions. The parliamentary report, submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office in May and tabled in Parliament this week, identified China as the most prolific foreign actor in interference, with India now ranking second, overtaking Russia.
In Indian politics, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party in the recent general elections, securing 240 seats in the Lok Sabha. However, this marked a significant decrease from the 303 seats won in 2019, leaving the BJP 32 seats short of a majority and reliant on its National Democratic Alliance partners. Modi is expected to take the oath of office on June 8.
Despite these challenges, both countries express an interest in advancing bilateral relations grounded in shared values.
