Canada's police chief reports no current evidence of Indian government-linked transnational repression, signalling improved relations after diplomatic tensions.
Key Points
- Canada's police chief states there are no current clandestine activities or transnational repression linked to the Indian government in Canada.
- The RCMP Commissioner's statement comes after months of diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.
- Tensions arose following allegations of a potential Indian link to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which India dismissed.
- India and Canada have taken steps to normalise relations, including posting high commissioners in each other's capitals.
- Recent agreements on uranium and critical minerals signal improving economic ties between India and Canada.
There are 'no longer clandestine activities or transnational repression taking place' in Canada that are linked to the government of India, Canada's police chief has said.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme made the comments during an interview with CTV News.
"We're not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity, based on the criminal information, the investigations that we have presently," he said while responding to a question whether 'transnational repression by agents of India' was still a concern.
"I'm saying that based on the totality of the files that we have on foreign interference or transnational repression, what we have in our holdings is we have people that are intimidating people, harassing people, but connecting the dots to a foreign entity, regardless of the country, we don't have that," Duheme said in the interview that would be aired on Sunday.
Improving India-Canada Relations
His comments came following months of diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.
In the last few months, India and Canada have taken several steps to normalise their relations.
India-Canada ties hit rock bottom following then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in 2023 of a potential Indian link to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed Trudeau's accusation as 'absurd'
In October 2024, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats.
However, Liberal Party leader Mark Carney's victory in the parliamentary election in April last year helped in beginning the process to reset relations.
Subsequently, both sides have already posted their high commissioners in each other's capitals.
Carney visited India earlier this month during which the two sides sealed key pacts on supplies of Uranium and critical minerals and vowed to soon conclude a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.
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