Indian students and young professionals seeking to migrate to Canada must be “discouraged” from doing so if the Canadian authorities refuse to heed to New Delhi’s concerns on pro-Khalistan terrorism, experts affiliated with Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have told Sputnik India.
“While Indian students currently enrolled at Canadian universities must not be disturbed, prospective Indian students seeking admission at Canadian universities must be actively discouraged through different means,” asserted Binay Kumar Singh, a senior research fellow of strategic studies at New Delhi-based think tank Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.
Singh demanded that New Delhi must impose some sort of “economic sanctions” against Canada for “sheltering and supporting terrorism”, a reference to activities of Sikh separatists in the North American nation.
“Definitely, Canada has more to lose by damaging relations with India. Their Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is unwise to not realize that point. He is not only damaging ties with India, but also affecting his international image, particularly among developing nations, by refusing to act against designated terrorists,” the think-tanker reckoned.
The expert underlined that India holds considerable “leverage” over Canada, particularly in the realm of people-to-people relations.
“Our students contribute significantly to their economy and the well-being of Canadian higher education institutions,” stressed Singh.
The remarks come against the backdrop of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of “violating” the Vienna Convention over New Delhi's warning of revoking diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country last month.
Trudeau this week reiterated his charge that his government had “credible allegations” about the involvement of Indian government “agents” in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist and a designated terrorist in India.
Nijjar, a Sikh temple leader in British Columbia, was gunned down by unidentified gunmen in Surrey in July.
As far as expulsion of Canadian diplomats is concerned, New Delhi has accused Canadian diplomats of “interfering” in Indian legal system through their “oversized presence” in the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that Canada has become a “safe haven” for terrorists and that Canadian authorities have refused to heed to Indian requests to hand over around 20 individuals suspected of terrorism in India.
Singh expressed his discomfort over a threat this month by a pro-Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the founder of separatist Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group, who has threatened to blow up Air India flights after 19 November.
Pannu, a US-Canada dual citizen, is a designated terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The Interpol has also issued a ‘Red Corner’ notice against Pannu.
“While Justin Trudeau talks about adherence to international protocols such as Vienna Convention, he has failed to rein in people like Pannun,” Singh stated.
In recent months, Pannu has openly advocated secession of Punjab state from India, attacks on Indian diplomats in Canada, and even threatened Hindus in Canada to leave the country.
India Already Discouraging Immigration to Canada: SJM
Professor Ashwani Mahajan, an economist and the co-convenor of economic advocacy group Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), told Sputnik India that recent travel warnings issued by New Delhi were already seen as discouraging people from travelling to Canada.
“We are a democratic country and people are free to travel where they want to. But Indians are a wise people and they don’t support terrorism directed against their own country,” Mahajan stated.
Mahajan noted that the “sentiment” towards Canada as an immigration destination had “soured” among Indian public due to Trudeau’s perceived support for anti-India activities.
The economist echoed the view that Canada would lose “significantly” if it continued to support terrorism against India for the sake of vote-bank politics.
“The incumbent Canadian PM is pandering to a few fringe elements in Canadian polity. But large sections of Canadian-Indians and the Canadian population don’t seem to appreciate Trudeau’s backing of terrorists at the expense of relations with India,” the expert underscored.
Mahajan noted that even Canadian opposition Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) didn’t agree with Trudeau on his policy towards India.
An advisory issued by India in September urged its citizens in or travelling to Canada to “exercise utmost caution” in view of “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes”.
New Delhi also temporarily suspended consular services at its missions in Canada citing in the wake of violent protests at Indian missions and attacks against Indian diplomatic staff by pro-Khalistan groups.
Jaishankar reasoned at the time that it was “no longer safe” for Indian diplomats posted in Canada to travel to work. New Delhi resumed visa services for certain category of visas in the last week of October after closed-door negotiations between Jaishankar and his Canadian number Melanie Joly.
Why Indian Immigrants are Critical for Canada’s Economy
According to official statistics by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), over 226,000 international students enrolling in Canadian universities last year were from India, the highest number for any country.
In fact, Indian student arrivals in Canada outpaced those from China, the second-biggest source of foreign students, by almost five times in 2022.
Similarly, India dominates as the primary source of immigration to Canada, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the Permanent Residency (PR) granted last year, according to IRCC.
Canada also hosts the biggest Sikh diaspora globally outside the Indian state of Punjab. In fact, the Sikh community forms a higher share of overall population in Canada than in India.
According to experts, immigration is critical to sustain economic growth in Canada, which has one of the world’s oldest populations.
India and Canada carried out over $15 billion worth of trade in goods and services in 2022.
Negotiations to pursue a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were put on hold last month in the wake of the diplomatic row between the two nations.