It seems somewhat irrational to have accused India of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, solely based on allegations. That's not how friends and allies behave toward one another — the more so when there is supposed to be an open police criminal investigation in BC..It is also inappropriate for politicians to comment publicly on open investigations or court proceedings. It is a form of interference with the independence of police services and thus considered “contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves,” to use the PM’s own words..The language Prime Minister Trudeau used to announce the revelation on the floor of the House of Commons is bizarrely tenuous: "security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India....".Allegations! Potential link!.How about some evidence to go along with the explosive accusation? The PM later claimed to have facts, but he still has not said what they are..The timing of the announcement and the motivations are questionable. When thinking about who and what does anyone have to gain from the surprise announcement, there are a few reasons and justifications that come to mind..1. First and foremost, the accusations have the hue of a temper tantrum: India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the G20 host, isolated Justin Trudeau and paid very little attention to him. Justin is lashing out for not receiving the honours he thinks he deserves..2. Trudeau's political standing among voters is declining and whipping a crisis like this portrays him as a defender of democratic values, if you excuse the interfering with police investigations aspect..3. It elevated Trudeau's international profile as he prepared for UN meetings..4. It diverted attention from China's interference in Canadian elections and other affairs, elevating the narrative of Indian interference that Jagmeet Singh has been singing for some time. It diminishes the focus on China just as an inquiry is about to start..5. Trudeau's actions are a political concession to maintain support for his minority government from Jagmeet Singh and his party. Singh will enjoy the attack on India's Modi for banning him from entering India..6. The move helps Trudeau with his Liberal caucus skeptics. It makes him appear tough, a defender of democracy and, more importantly, he shows himself capable of making the necessary deals with Singh to keep Liberal MPs in office..7. Indians are proud people and would be expected to react, escalating tensions: evicting a Canadian diplomat, closing visas for Canadians, benefiting Trudeau's agenda. Justin said he doesn't want to provoke India, but that's precisely what he is doing. He is very interested in keeping this going for as long as he can. Witness the travel advisory against India and the insinuations that India tampered with "his plane.".8. A Canada-India conflict distracts international attention from China's current actions regarding Taiwan. It benefits China, India's rival in that region of the world..9. Wagging the dog: when one is in trouble at home, unleash a crisis with a rival abroad. It usually involves military actions of some sort, but this is Trudeauvian Canada. Picking a fight with India distracts from the many domestic issues plaguing the Trudeau government. For as long as Canadians are talking about India, they are not discussing food inflation and housing affordability, and they are not talking about the Inquiry on Foreign Interference, the Barber-Lich persecution trial, or the massive protests about the curtailing of parental rights.. Trudeau ASEAN ShirtPrime Minister Trudeau at the ASEAN converence in Indonesia, in May 2023. .10. The distraction from these important Canadian issues shifts attention away from the Leader of the Opposition and his message. Poilievre gets less airtime..11. The damage to Canada-India relations hinders trade and investment opportunities between both countries, which benefits, again, China..Given the timing, not all of these must be at the forefront of the PM's mind (and his staff's) for one to see the objective is distraction. Quite apart from the question of whether it is true that India has had Nijjar killed (and it might be) the manner and the chosen time point to a manipulative agenda on the part of the PMO..The antidote is simple. We don't have to ignore the potential involvement of India in the June killing. But let's get back to talking about inflation, shortage of housing, the Barber-Lich trial, the foreign interference inquiry, the abysmal popular support for the PM and his coalition with Jagmeet Singh and how well Pierre Poilievre is doing..Marco Navarro-Genie president of the Haultain Research Institute. He is, with Barry Cooper, co-author of Canada’s COVID: The Story of a Pandemic Moral Panic (2023)
It seems somewhat irrational to have accused India of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, solely based on allegations. That's not how friends and allies behave toward one another — the more so when there is supposed to be an open police criminal investigation in BC..It is also inappropriate for politicians to comment publicly on open investigations or court proceedings. It is a form of interference with the independence of police services and thus considered “contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves,” to use the PM’s own words..The language Prime Minister Trudeau used to announce the revelation on the floor of the House of Commons is bizarrely tenuous: "security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India....".Allegations! Potential link!.How about some evidence to go along with the explosive accusation? The PM later claimed to have facts, but he still has not said what they are..The timing of the announcement and the motivations are questionable. When thinking about who and what does anyone have to gain from the surprise announcement, there are a few reasons and justifications that come to mind..1. First and foremost, the accusations have the hue of a temper tantrum: India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the G20 host, isolated Justin Trudeau and paid very little attention to him. Justin is lashing out for not receiving the honours he thinks he deserves..2. Trudeau's political standing among voters is declining and whipping a crisis like this portrays him as a defender of democratic values, if you excuse the interfering with police investigations aspect..3. It elevated Trudeau's international profile as he prepared for UN meetings..4. It diverted attention from China's interference in Canadian elections and other affairs, elevating the narrative of Indian interference that Jagmeet Singh has been singing for some time. It diminishes the focus on China just as an inquiry is about to start..5. Trudeau's actions are a political concession to maintain support for his minority government from Jagmeet Singh and his party. Singh will enjoy the attack on India's Modi for banning him from entering India..6. The move helps Trudeau with his Liberal caucus skeptics. It makes him appear tough, a defender of democracy and, more importantly, he shows himself capable of making the necessary deals with Singh to keep Liberal MPs in office..7. Indians are proud people and would be expected to react, escalating tensions: evicting a Canadian diplomat, closing visas for Canadians, benefiting Trudeau's agenda. Justin said he doesn't want to provoke India, but that's precisely what he is doing. He is very interested in keeping this going for as long as he can. Witness the travel advisory against India and the insinuations that India tampered with "his plane.".8. A Canada-India conflict distracts international attention from China's current actions regarding Taiwan. It benefits China, India's rival in that region of the world..9. Wagging the dog: when one is in trouble at home, unleash a crisis with a rival abroad. It usually involves military actions of some sort, but this is Trudeauvian Canada. Picking a fight with India distracts from the many domestic issues plaguing the Trudeau government. For as long as Canadians are talking about India, they are not discussing food inflation and housing affordability, and they are not talking about the Inquiry on Foreign Interference, the Barber-Lich persecution trial, or the massive protests about the curtailing of parental rights.. Trudeau ASEAN ShirtPrime Minister Trudeau at the ASEAN converence in Indonesia, in May 2023. .10. The distraction from these important Canadian issues shifts attention away from the Leader of the Opposition and his message. Poilievre gets less airtime..11. The damage to Canada-India relations hinders trade and investment opportunities between both countries, which benefits, again, China..Given the timing, not all of these must be at the forefront of the PM's mind (and his staff's) for one to see the objective is distraction. Quite apart from the question of whether it is true that India has had Nijjar killed (and it might be) the manner and the chosen time point to a manipulative agenda on the part of the PMO..The antidote is simple. We don't have to ignore the potential involvement of India in the June killing. But let's get back to talking about inflation, shortage of housing, the Barber-Lich trial, the foreign interference inquiry, the abysmal popular support for the PM and his coalition with Jagmeet Singh and how well Pierre Poilievre is doing..Marco Navarro-Genie president of the Haultain Research Institute. He is, with Barry Cooper, co-author of Canada’s COVID: The Story of a Pandemic Moral Panic (2023)
