New Delhi-Ottawa relations have reached an all-time low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of Indian government officials and diplomats in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a figure who was designated as a terrorist in India and placed on Canada’s no-fly list.

Both countries have since expelled top envoys and other diplomats as tensions over Nijjar's killing escalate. Trudeau accused India of interfering in Canada’s sovereignty, while India dismissed his claims as baseless and absurd.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sanjay Kumar Verma, the recalled Indian High Commissioner to Canada, shares his perspective on Canada’s handling of Sikh extremist elements, which he believes is influenced by vote-bank politics.

Verma also explains why Trudeau has refrained from taking action against Khalistani figures who are wanted in India for serious crimes. He shares personal accounts of the challenges he and his family faced in Canada. Verma stresses that a small group of Khalistani elements has hijacked the narrative and that the majority of Sikhs do not support the Khalistan movement.

Watch this episode to understand how the Canadian government addresses Khalistani extremism and why some believe it has given them a free hand.

0:00 - Coming Up

1:12 - Introduction

2:02 - India-Canada Diplomatic Row

8:40 - What Canadians Think of India

12:00 - Nijjar Killing Probe

16:44 - Bishnoi Gang Link to Nijjar Killing

21:07 - Trudeau's Allegations Against New Delhi

23:56 - MEA's Strong Response to Canada

27:00 - Threats & Attacks against Envoy Sanjay Verma

35:34 - Attacks on Diplomats in Western Countries

39:47 - Indian Journalists Accused of Foreign Interference

45:22 - Lawrence Bishnoi

51:00 - Trudeau Harbouring Khalistani Elements

55:33 - 'Fake' Asylum Claims in Canada

59:06 - India: A 'Rogue' Nation?

1:01:30 - Will India-Canada Ties Improve?

1:04:05 - Pakistan-Khalistan Ties?

1:05:05 - What's Next for Envoy Sanjay Verma