Prior to the tenure of the current Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, there was his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who held the position as Canada's 15th Prime Minister. It is worth delving into the historical context to understand how their respective administrations have impacted India-Canada relations.
Justin Trudeau's administration left an indelible mark on India-Canada ties, and this impact was particularly pronounced due to his association with elements sympathetic to the Khalistani cause within Canada. The catalyst for this downturn in relations was Justin Trudeau's unsubstantiated allegations, asserting that India played a role in the demise of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
However, even before Justin Trudeau embarked on his visits to India in 2018 and 2023, notably for the G20 Summit, his father, Pierre Trudeau, had traversed a similar path. In January 1971, Pierre Trudeau embarked on a five-day tour of India, replete with memorable experiences such as riding a camel, interacting with a bullock, embarking on a journey along the Ganges, visiting a locomotive factory, and beholding the majestic Taj Mahal. Gar Pardy, a Canadian Foreign Service official stationed in New Delhi during that period, documented these captivating moments.
The origins of the strained relations between India and Canada can be traced back to Pierre Trudeau's era. This was not solely attributable to the Khalistani issue; another contentious point arose with India's first nuclear test conducted for peaceful purposes.
The Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor, which facilitated nuclear energy generation using unenriched uranium, proved advantageous to developing nations like India that lacked uranium enrichment facilities. However, this accessibility also introduced the potential for plutonium production, thereby raising concerns about nuclear weapon proliferation.
Collaborating with the United States, Canada played a pivotal role in India's civil nuclear program, notably with the Canadian-Indian Reactor, also known as the CIRUS nuclear reactor. Commissioned in July 1960 under the leadership of Homi Jehangir Bhabha, this project was initially intended for peaceful purposes, as affirmed by Pierre Trudeau, with a caveat that Canada would suspend its nuclear cooperation in the event of an Indian nuclear test.
In 1974, three years after Pierre Trudeau's visit, India conducted a nuclear explosion at the Pokhran test site, utilizing plutonium derived from the CIRUS reactor, as documented in a Stanford University research paper. India maintained that it was a "peaceful nuclear explosion" and did not violate the terms of the agreement with Canada. However, Pierre Trudeau's Canada withdrew all support for India's nuclear energy program and recalled Canadian officials involved in another reactor project in India, according to a Columbia University research paper.
A declassified US State Department report from February 1972 revealed that the agreements with both the US and Canada did not explicitly prohibit the use of the reactors for "peaceful" nuclear explosions. The report stated that while the agreements constrained the use of the CIRUS reactor to peaceful purposes, the language did not preclude the possibility of "peaceful" nuclear explosions.
It would take years for the frost in nuclear relations to thaw. It wasn't until 2010, during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Canada for the G20 Summit, that a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was signed between the two countries, signaling a resurgence in nuclear cooperation.
Yet, the strain in relations extended beyond the nuclear realm. Pierre Trudeau's reluctance to address the Khalistani elements posed a significant obstacle to Indo-Canadian ties, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic terrorist attack on Canadian soil.
Sikh immigrants have played a significant role in the Canadian demographic landscape since the late 19th century, with their numbers surging, particularly after amendments to the Immigration Act in the mid-1970s. This community, which now comprises about 2 percent of Canada's population, wields considerable political influence.
Furthermore, Canada served as a safe haven for Punjab-based terrorists in the 1980s following a crackdown on militancy in India. One prominent figure among them was Talwinder Singh Parmar, a member of the Khalistani outfit Babbar Khalsa. Parmar, responsible for killing two police personnel in Punjab in 1981, fled to Canada. He actively advocated attacks on Indian missions abroad and incited communal violence.
India's requests for Parmar's extradition were rebuffed by the government led by Pierre Trudeau, and intelligence warnings from India went unanswered. In June 1985, a bomb placed in two suitcases detonated on Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka), en route from Toronto to London, resulting in the loss of all 329 passengers on board—Canada's deadliest terrorist attack. Most of the victims were Canadian citizens, and this tragedy remains a dark chapter in Canadian history.
Parmar, whom Pierre Trudeau shielded, was the mastermind behind the Kanishka bombing and was subsequently killed by police in Punjab in 1992. As recently as June this year, posters honoring Parmar were observed in various locations in Canada.
Remarkably, all those arrested in connection with the Kanishka bombing, including Talwinder Singh Parmar, were eventually released, with only one individual, Inderjit Singh Reyat, being convicted and serving a 15-year prison sentence. The Indian government's expectations of a more robust response from Canada in the aftermath of the bombings were unmet.
This episode revealed the stark contrast in Pierre Trudeau's approach, as he took a tough stance against the separatist movement in Quebec, deploying troops and suspending civil liberties to suppress it. His administration's rigorous crackdown on the legitimate democratic movement in Quebec during the late 1960s and early 1970s stands in stark contrast to his approach to the Khalistani issue.
In essence, Pierre Trudeau's tenure was marked by this inconsistency, which has left a lasting impact on Indo-Canadian relations. The legacy of the Kanishka bombing now squarely rests with his son, Justin Trudeau, and despite efforts to turn the page in Canada's relationship with India, this tragic event continues to loom large in their bilateral history.
In conclusion, while Justin Trudeau's policies may reflect his father's in certain aspects, there are discernible differences between the two leaders. Justin Trudeau, in contrast to his father, is perceived as lacking the same level of political conviction, with a penchant for identity politics. His reliance on political coalitions, such as the one with the New Democratic Party (NDP) led by Jagmeet Singh, also influences his decisions.
Nevertheless, Canada's historical patronage of Khalistani elements has rekindled the Khalistani threat, which had long remained dormant. India, in the wake of the Air India Kanishka bombing, bears the enduring memory of this tragedy, and Justin Trudeau bears the legacy of that fateful event, regardless of efforts to redefine Canada's ties with India.
