High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik credits PM Mike Carney for thawing India-Canada ties, dismisses Trudeau claims, as both countries resume dialogue, bolster security cooperation, and eye expanded trade and AI collaboration.
India’s new High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has suggested that strong bilateral relationships cannot be undone by the actions of a single individual, in a pointed reference to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Speaking to CTV’s Question Period on Sunday, Patnaik said the ties between New Delhi and Ottawa were “far too much in common to let that go” and hailed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for helping restore normalcy.
Patnaik described the improvement in relations as “inevitable” but said Carney’s leadership played a “very big role” in accelerating the process.
“We might have been here a little earlier or later. You can’t keep two large countries apart for long. The revival of the High Commission was inevitable; it just took some time. Donald Trump played a role, but it’s your new Prime Minister Mark Carney who has been instrumental in getting things back to normal,” he said.
Dismissal of Trudeau allegations
The High Commissioner dismissed Trudeau’s past allegations linking Indian agents to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia as “preposterous and absurd” and without substantial evidence.
“What we needed was dialogue to be able to talk to each other, not make allegations in the press without proof,” Patnaik said, emphasising that both countries now share democracy, freedom of the press, and rule of law.
Patnaik outlined steps already taken to rebuild trust, including talks between security agencies, dialogue between the RCMP and India’s National Investigation Agency, and meetings between both countries’ National Security Advisors.
While noting progress, he added that India does not yet consider Canada a fully “reliable partner” but hopes that extraneous factors do not interfere with economic and strategic cooperation.
‘I should not be under protection’
The High Commissioner also flagged ongoing security issues, particularly the Lawrence Bishnoi gang operating across India and Canada. He described pro-Khalistan elements as groups “terrorizing” relations and called for stronger internal security coordination.
“I find it strange that a High Commissioner here has to be under protection. I should not be under protection in a country like this,” he said.
Relations had hit a low point more than two years ago following Trudeau’s claims of “credible allegations” against India, prompting a diplomatic standoff that included the expulsion of officials and the suspension of free trade talks.
The relationship began to thaw this summer after Carney invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, and ministerial-level meetings have resumed, including Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s visit to India this week.
Both countries issued a joint statement outlining cooperation in trade, artificial intelligence, and other areas, marking a fresh phase in the ongoing rebuilding of trust. “Right now, the relationship between the two countries is good, and it can be much better. The initial steps have been taken,” Patnaik said.
