Western commentators see farmers’ protest template behind Canada-India diplomatic spat
PM Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, October 4: With India stepping up offensive against Canada in the aftermath of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making a sensation claim that there are “credible allegations against Government of India in killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar”, the western commentators are now lensing the farmers’ protests on the outskirts of Delhi as possible explanation for the diplomatic slugfest with Ottawa.
The western commentators have also begun alluding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is building on the muscular foreign policy image of the government for political gains on the lines of actions taken against Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. Fareed Zakaria, the US-based television anchor, in his show alluded to Modi’s bid to pump up his image in the slugfest with Canada, while analysing reportage of the Indian television channels. He commented that the diplomatic spat with Canada suits Modi’s nationalist image.
“For Mr. Modi, the pursuit of a small but noisy assemblage of criminals in a faraway country — India had been pushing for the extradition of 26 before Mr. Nijjar’s death — and the amplification of the separatist threat provide an important political narrative ahead of a national election early next year,” said The New York Times in a report published on Wednesday on the basis of ground reporting in Punjab.
The daily also claimed that “it furthers his image as a strongman leader who will go to any extent to protect his nation. It has prompted even some of his staunchest critics to rally around him in the face of Canada’s accusation. And it offers a fresh threat to point to after Mr. Modi capitalized on violent Islamic militancy emanating from Pakistan before the last election, in 2019, to create a political wave.”
Foreign affairs expert, Professor C. Christine Fair wrote in an article for Lawfare that possibly Trudeau’s support to the farmers’ protests on the outskirts of Delhi could explain India’s diplomatic offensive. “Trudeau had lectured India on the right to civil disobedience. In December 2020, during India’s farmers’ protest, Trudeau took the opportunity of a Gurpurab (a celebration of a Sikh guru’s death anniversary) to tell his Canadian-Punjabi constituents that he would be remiss if he didn’t start by recognising the news coming from India about the protest by farmers,” Fair wrote in her article.
She further quoted Trudeau having said “the situation is concerning. We are all very worried about family and friends. We know that’s a reality for many of you. Let me remind you, Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protesters.”
The NYT in its report further stated that “…Khalistan has become more frequently discussed in Indian national politics over the past three years. As Mr. Modi’s lieutenants grew frustrated with the Sikh-led farmer protests in 2021, they often labeled the protesters as Khalistanis stoked by outside forces.”
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