Diplomatic clash

Canada's internal politics is harming its relations with India

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation that the “agents of the government of India” were responsible for the assassination in June this year of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan leader, the mutual expulsion of diplomats, and a pause in trade talks earlier this month mark further downward steps in the slide in India-Canada relations due to differences over the politics of the Sikh separatist movement. The frosty personal relations were well in evidence at the recent G20 leaders’ summit, where Mr Trudeau skipped the dinner and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi only on the sidelines.

Prima facie, Mr Trudeau’s