New Delhi: From the Congress to the Trinamool Congress, the unprecedented diplomatic crisis between India and China has brought to the fore differences within the opposition parties, with some leaders holding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responsible for the standoff, while a few are demanding answers from New Delhi.
Spelling out the party’s official stand in a statement, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said Wednesday that the allegations made by Canada, backed by several other countries, are “tarnishing” India’s global reputation and “damaging Brand India”. The Centre must take the Opposition into confidence on the issue, he added.
The statement issued by Ramesh made no reference to New Delhi’s position that the Trudeau administration had given anti-India elements a free run in Canada. However, Congress MP Manish Tewari, who represents Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha, was severely critical of Trudeau.
Speaking to Mirror Now, Tewari accused Trudeau of “pandering to a radical fringe”, which, the Congress leader said, was not helping either the cause of the Canadian PM or the state of Indo-Canadian relations. Tewari also alleged that a fringe has used Canadian soil to launch “radical and terrorist activities” in India, appearing to be on the same page as the Indian government.
Tewari’s father, Vishwa Nath Tewari, was killed by Sikh militants in 1984. Tewari also posted on X: “Certain events cast long shadows: If successive Canadian governments would have handled the investigation into the bombing of AI-182 Kanishka that exploded mid air on 23rd June 1985 killing 329 people including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British Citizens & 24 Indian citizens more sensitively and seriously, Canada would not be where it is in its relationship qua India.”
Certain events cast long shadows:
If successive Canadian Government ‘s would have handled the investigation into the Bombing of AI-182 Kanishka that exploded mid air on 23 rd June 1985 killing 329 people including 268 Canadian citizens, 27 British Citizens & 24 Indian…
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) October 16, 2024
Both Tewari and Ramesh, however, were on the same page on the question of requesting the Centre to keep the opposition in the loop on developments in the diplomatic front.
The statement issued by Ramesh read: “The Indian National Congress has already asked the prime minister to take the leaders of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, and other political leaders, into confidence on the serious charges levelled against the government of India by [the] USA and Canada. This demand is necessitated by the worsening India-Canada relations and growing concerns about India-US ties. Allegations made by Canada, now backed by several other countries, are threatening to escalate, tarnishing India’s global reputation and damaging Brand India.
“It is imperative that the Government of India promptly and clearly articulate its stance on this issue. The opposition must be fully informed, as safeguarding India’s global standing is a shared responsibility. Our nation’s international image as a country that believes in and adheres to rule of law is at risk, and it is crucial that we act together to defend it. On matters relating to national security and foreign policy, the nation must always be one.”
The Indian National Congress has already asked the Prime Minister to take the Leaders of Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, and other political leaders, into confidence on the serious charges leveled against the government of India by USA and Canada.
This demand is…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi took the line Thursday that the Indian government should take steps to improve the plummeting bilateral ties between the two nations. He also alleged that agencies are involved in the rise of gangsters and termed the murder of Punjabi singer and rapper Sidhu Moose Wala “political”.
“India and Canada enjoy very good relations. People from Punjab are living in Canada in very large numbers. We enjoy good people-to-people ties. So we should not spoil the relationship with Canada. Our government should take steps to improve bilateral ties,” Channi told reporters.
Also read: India takes a swipe at Trudeau over his ‘One India’ policy remark. ‘Gap between action and words’
CPI(M) backs govt, TMC leaders’ contrasting positions
Even as the Congress spoke in different voices, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) took a rather clear stand on the issue, throwing its weight behind New Delhi while also pointing fingers at Ottawa.
“The activities of anti-India Khalistani elements operating in Canada have been a matter of serious concern and have a direct impact on national security. The Government of India is duty-bound to protect the national interest for which it has the support across political parties in India. The allegations levied by various official authorities of the Canadian government against India have been rejected by the Government of India. It is to be expected that the Government of India will take the opposition parties into confidence on these issues including the allegation made about the role of the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal gang,” said the CPI(M) in a statement.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau on India-Canada relations pic.twitter.com/yXqJZN94Ht
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) October 15, 2024
The Trinamool Congress, another key player in the opposition camp, also appeared divided on the matter, with two Rajya Sabha MPs of the party, Sagarika Ghose and Saket Gokhale, taking contrasting positions.
Gokhale slammed Trudeau and the Five Eyes grouping comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, terming their “hypocrisy” astonishing.
“Trudeau has accused India of orchestrating the killing of Nijjar—a man India designated as a terrorist. Canada refers to extremists like him as “activists”. These same countries, however, have willfully supported & backed Israel’s incursion into the sovereign territory of Lebanon to carry out killings of civilians…If the “Five Eyes” had any integrity, they’d have taken a tough & firm stand against Israel’s incursion into Lebanon. To hold Israel’s enemies as terrorists but India’s enemies as “activists” is a purely shameless example of double standards,” he posted on X.
The sheer hypocrisy of Canada’s PM Trudeau & his “Five Eyes” allies is astonishing.
Trudeau has accused India of orchestrating the killing of Nijjar – a man India designated as a terrorist. Canada refers to extremists like him as “activists”.
These same countries, however,…
— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) October 17, 2024
Ghose, however, has been issuing statement after statement, asking the Indian government to come clean on the allegations levelled by the Trudeau administration. She also referred to the support extended by the Five Eyes countries to Trudeau, saying that no side should be allowed to escape accountability “because of hyperactive paranoias about foreign governments”.
“Indian foreign policy has always had a high moral purpose which must be maintained. The Modi government needs to inform the opposition on its next steps and work with other democracies in the world to ensure that the rule of law is upheld,” she posted on X.
The Five Eyes Alliance countries support Canada on the Nijjar murder. Indian foreign policy has always had a high moral purpose which must be maintained. The Modi government needs to inform the opposition on its next steps and work with other democracies in the world to ensure…
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) October 17, 2024
In another post, she wrote: “Apparently all the Five Eyes alliance partners seem to believe the evidence they have. All of it should come out soon enough and no one (on either side) should escape accountability because of hyperactive paranoias about “foreign governments.” It’s the same “foreign government” which gave over 3 lakh visas to Indian students last year.”
Apparently all the Five Eyes alliance partners seem to believe the evidence they have. All of it should come out soon enough and no one ( on either side) should escape accountability because of hyper active paranoias about “foreign governments.” It’s the same “foreign government”… https://t.co/vuLt52sL48
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) October 16, 2024
Also read: Indian-origin MP from Trudeau’s party flags Hindu-Canadians’ fears over ‘Khalistani extremism’