India- Canada conflict: A flock of birds flies past the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, where temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down in his vehicle while leaving the temple parking lot in June. Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat Monday as it investigates what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called credible allegations that India’s government may have had links to the assassination in Canada of a Sikh activist.
| Photo Credit: Darryl Dyck

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in Surrey. India called the allegations “absurd” and “motivated”. India had declared Nijjar, the head of the Khalistani Tiger Force, a terrorist in 2020, and has accused Canada of providing a safe haven for people who support the Khalistani cause.

Soon after the accusation, the head of Indian intelligence in Canada was expelled. India retaliated by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat. Indo-Canadian relations have been turbulent over the past few years, in large part due to what India sees as Canada’s sympathetic approach towards supporters of the Khalistan movement. Canada has a large Sikh and Punjabi immigrant diaspora population.

On September 21, India suspended visa services in Canada. This has reportedly led to anxiety among students, their families, and other travellers who aspire to go to Canada, especially Punjabis. People who identified Punjabi as their ethnic or cultural origin during the 2021 Canadian census formed the largest share of Indians in Canada, followed by Tamilians, Gujaratis, and Bengalis. More importantly, 30% of Punjabis in Canada belong to the second or third generation (persons not born outside Canada). A higher share of Goans and Tamils are from the second or third generation; however, their overall numbers are relatively lower than Punjabis.

Chart 1 | The chart plots the share of Indians across ethnic/cultural group who belong to the second or third generation (not born outside Canada) on the horizontal axis. The bigger the circle, the more the number of people in that group.

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Indians form the largest share of immigrants, foreign students, foreign workers, and other groups in Canada. India overtook China and the Philippines to form the highest share of immigrants in Canada in the 2016-2021 period (Chart 2).

Chart 2 | The chart shows country-wise share of immigrants in Canada in the 2016-2021 period.

Similarly, the highest number of applications received for permanent residency in Canada between January 2020 and July 2023 were from Indians (4.6 lakh) followed by the Chinese (1.05 lakh) (Chart 3).

Chart 3 | The chart shows the number of applications received for permanent residency in Canada between January 2020 and July 2023.

Chart 4 | The chart shows the number of new study permit applications received by Canada between January 2020 and July 2023.

Indians also submitted the highest number (8.7 lakh) of new study permit applications to Canada in the same period, followed by Nigerians (1.2 lakh) (Chart 4). The highest share of International Mobility Program work permit holders were also Indians (5.4 lakh) followed by Ukrainians (1.5 lakh) (Chart 5).

Chart 5 | The chart shows the number of International Mobility Program work permit holders in Canada between January 2020 and July 2023.

Trade equations have also taken a hit. Canada postponed a trade mission to India that was scheduled in October. It has also paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India.

Chart 6 | The chart shows the value of items imported by Canada from India in $ between 2018 and 2022. The bigger and darker the circle, the more the import dependency on India.

For instance, Canada imported $1.7 billion worth of medicaments from India in the period, but of Canada’s total medicaments imports, India’s share was only 4%. Canada imported diamond, jewellery and linen products in large numbers from India. It is also highly dependent on India for these items.

Chart 7 | The chart shows the value of the items imported by India from Canada in $ between 2018 and 2022. The bigger and darker the circle, the more the import dependency on Canada.

For instance, India imported $3.6 billion worth of coal from Canada, but of India’s total coal imports, Canada’s share formed only 2.6%. Fertilizers, leguminous vegetables, newsprint and uranium/thorium ore were items that India imported heavily from Canada. India’s dependency on Canada was relatively high was for these items as well.

sonikka.l@thehindu.co.in and vignesh.r@thehindu.co.in

Source: U.N. Comtrade database, Statistics Canada

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New Delhi:

Amid a huge diplomatic row between India and Canada, the parents of Indian students are worried that the standoff can impact their children in Canada and expose them to a security risk.

They are worried that their children may experience discrimination or bias based on their nationality.

“My daughter went to Canada to study seven months ago. My child is also concerned there, she can’t focus on her studies,” Balwinder Singh – whose daughter studies in Canada – told news agency ANI.

“My two daughters are in Canada and I am tense. Governments of both countries should find a solution,” another parent, Kuldeep Kaur said.

Some students are also jittery about their plan to study in Canada as the hostility between the two countries deepens. They are worried that the government move to suspend Visa services in Canada may have a direct implication on their migration.

Punjab BJP Chief Sunil Jakhar has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to set up a helpline for Indians students and residents in Canada.

“I would request you to institute a dedicated helpline number on which our NRIs and students can contact and seek help from Indian Consulates. A WhatsApp number can be released for Indian students planning to go abroad to get in touch with authorities in case of need and guidance,” Mr Jakhar said.

Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and ensure the well-being of the students in Canada.

Earlier this week, Canada’s Justin Trudeau made the explosive charge that “Indian government agents” could be behind the shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the allegation as “absurd”.

Canada has shared no specific information regarding its charges, India said, flagging “politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in that country.

Both India and Canada issued travel advisories and expelled a senior diplomat of the other country.

India has advised its nationals in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise “utmost caution” in view of growing anti-India activities and “politically-condoned” hate crimes.

“Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant,” the foreign ministry said.

Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Canada’s British Columbia in June. He was chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most wanted terrorists.