Canada Holds ‘Workshops’ For Indian Officials On Rule Of Law Amid Diplomatic Tension

As calls for Canada to mend relations with India surface following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation of Indian involvement in a Canadian’s death, Ottawa is adopting visual aids like slideshows and flow charts in diplomatic efforts. Canadian officials are conducting “workshops” on the rule of law, according to Canada’s perspective, amid rising tensions over diplomatic relations.

Senior bureaucrat Weldon Epp informed MPs about the challenges in aligning India’s definition of extremism or terrorism with Canada’s legal system. He stated, “Justice Canada has, in the past, conducted workshops with the Indian government to explain what our standards legally would be.”

The death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., last June intensified accusations against India, with Trudeau later revealing that Canadian intelligence agencies were exploring a potential link between India’s government and Nijjar’s killing. Canadian officials have urged increased cooperation from India, which contends that Canada has provided insufficient evidence.

Epp, overseeing Canada’s Indo-Pacific diplomacy, testified that significant developments await potential charges from the RCMP. In November, a U.S. indictment implicated an Indian diplomat in a conspiracy to assassinate a US citizen, revealing plans to target Canadians, including Nijjar.

Since Trudeau’s accusation, diplomatic tensions have risen, leading to a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence and a temporary halt in visa processing by India. Trade talks between the two nations have been suspended, and a Canadian foreign interference inquiry identified India as a potential source of meddling, further escalating tensions.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently discussed bilateral ties and global issues with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly at the Munich Security Conference. The meeting focused on the current state of relations, with both leaders exchanging views on global challenges, as reported by Jaishankar on social media. Joly also shared details of their discussion, emphasizing a frank dialogue on Canada-India relations and global issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Parvasi Weekly Inc.