New Delhi, Mar 3: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing growing pressure at home to clarify his government’s position on alleged Indian interference, following a high-profile meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.Carney concluded a four-day visit to India on Monday aimed at repairing strained ties and boosting trade between the two countries. Standing alongside Modi, he described Canada and India as “one family” and signaled his ambition to secure a free-trade agreement with the world’s fifth-largest economy by the end of the year.
The visit produced several agreements, including multiple memorandums of understanding and a $2.6 billion uranium supply deal — a landmark pact in the energy sector. Ottawa hopes bilateral trade could grow to $70 billion by 2030.Modi welcomed Carney’s efforts to reset the relationship, and both leaders announced plans to meet again in Canada after Modi accepted an invitation to visit.Interference Allegations Cast a ShadowDespite the economic optimism, the trip has been overshadowed by lingering questions about India’s alleged involvement in foreign interference activities in Canada — including the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.Canadian authorities have previously alleged that agents linked to the Indian government may have played a role in Nijjar’s assassination. India has repeatedly denied any involvement.In a statement released after Carney’s meeting with Modi, the Prime Minister’s Office said Carney had “underscored that Canada will continue to take measures to combat transnational repression.” However, the statement offered no additional details.Carney cancelled a planned press conference at the end of the visit, citing an extended schedule and onward travel to Australia.
As a result, he has yet to directly answer reporters’ questions about whether he believes India’s alleged campaign of intimidation and interference has ceased.Last week, a senior Canadian official suggested the government was “confident” that such activities had ended, adding that the prime minister would not have undertaken the trip otherwise. That assessment, however, was publicly tempered by Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who told reporters in New Delhi that she would not personally use those words.Security Concerns Persist The issue remains politically sensitive in Canada. In June, the country’s intelligence service described Nijjar’s killing as a “significant escalation” in what it characterized as a broader pattern of transnational repression.
In November, Canada’s spy chief named both India and China as leading actors in foreign interference activities within Canada.More recently, a Sikh activist reported receiving a police warning about a credible threat to his family — a threat he believes originated from India. Such incidents have fueled skepticism among some lawmakers about suggestions that the situation has stabilized.Liberal Member of Parliament Ruby Sahota said in a statement that claims the threats have been resolved “do not reflect the current security reality facing Canada.”India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has firmly rejected allegations of foreign interference, maintaining that India has not conducted such activities on Canadian soil.Balancing Trade and PrinciplesCarney has framed his approach as one of “principled pragmatism,” acknowledging during the trip that “not every partner will share all our values.” The phrase reflects Ottawa’s attempt to balance economic engagement with concerns about human rights and national security.
With negotiations toward a free-trade agreement expected to intensify in the coming months, pressure is likely to grow on Carney to clarify how his government plans to safeguard Canadians while deepening ties with New Delhi.For now, the diplomatic reset is underway — but so are the questions.
