This week is ending on an acrimonious note as the relations between India and Canada have taken another ugly turn due to abominable statements made by the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau while speaking at the Khalsa Day event. On the other hand, Trump’s sharp remarks on ‘Jihad’ added fuel to this fiery week in global politics.
Trump has reacted harshly to the recent anti-Israel protests in the US; and ‘Jihad’. He condemned the protests organised by pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas students in the US this week. Trump spoke while campaigning as the Republican candidate for the US Presidential elections that such protests are detrimental for the US, and he does not promote ‘Jihad’ at all. He emphasized his opposition to mass immigration by stating that he would not permit a similar transformation in the US. During a campaign rally, Trump asserted that Europe’s decision to open its doors to ‘Jihad’ has led to drastic changes in cities like Paris and London; so much so that these cities ‘cannot be recognised anymore’. These comments, delivered during an election rally in Wisconsin, mark the 77-year-old former US President’s continued criticism of Jihad and may reignite his tensions with those who criticise Trump for his perilous views on Jihad. This is not the first time Trump has made such statement about ‘Jihad’. He did not mince his words and views this week as well as he stated, “We’ve seen what happened when Europe opened its doors to jihad. Look at Paris, look at London, they’re no longer recognisable,” He also said “I’m gonna get myself into a lot of trouble with the folks in Paris and the folks in London, but you know what, that’s the fact. They are no longer recognisable and we can’t let that happen to our country.”
While Trump is reacting sharply to ‘Jihad’ and the terrorism, Trudeau is doing stark opposite to it. This week as well, his statements further intensified ongoing tensions between India and Canada. While speaking at the Khalsa Day event, Trudeau not only acknowledged that the situation arising from the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia was a matter that could not be overlooked; he also reiterated his previous claims about potential involvement of Indian agents in the incident. He also emphasized that it is not their policy to suppress political protests, especially those associated with pro-Khalistani elements. In response to Trudeau’s remarks, India called upon the Canadian deputy high commissioner to register Indian objection regarding the pro-Khalistan slogans raised at the event, which was also attended by numerous other international dignitaries. India has also criticized Canada for allowing space for separatism and terrorism within its borders and promoting Khalistani movement as well as the leaders, creating huge challenge for Indian national security. The strained relationship between India and Canada stemmed from allegations made by Trudeau in September last year regarding possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s murder (who was a declared terrorist by Indian government); these accusations were vehemently denied by Indian government as baseless. Subsequently, India directed Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence as a measure to maintain parity between the two countries, leading to Canada recalling more than 40 diplomats and their families from India.
The world has to unite when it comes to the challenge of Terrorism. India keeps iterating that it needs to get a collective reply from the entire world. Terrorist organisations, claiming themselves as political organisations, only devastate lives (remember Afghanistan!). Keeping politics aside, the leaders need to think what will they achieve by helping terrorism (read: Trudeau). Terrorist organisations like Hamas, which are declared terrorist groups by many nations, need to be condemned and contained unanimously. As they get funded and supported by some nations, they execute deadly terrorist attacks using sophisticated military equipment. For example, On 7 October, Hamas unprecedentedly attacked Israel with aerial strikes and its fighters who entered the societies of Israel near the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of people, including women and children and taking dozens of hostages. Now when Israel is responding to this brutal terror attack of Hamas; it is facing criticism from many people and groups for ‘killing’ women and children in Gaza. Someone should ask them about those women and children who lost their lives when Hamas attacked Israel during the midnight.
It is not about who is right and who is wrong. It is also not about who should win and who should lose, it is also not about who should have the power. It is all about who thinks about humanity at the end of the day. We have created families, societies, nations, international organisations and this international system for our survival and a good life. Wars mark an ugly scar on this entire arrangement, and on humanity. It sounds very idealist, in fact, utopian, but if we move a bit towards the positive side of ours from the grey area, we would be able to understand that violence can be eliminated only when we learn to cooperate and collaborate. Hope the leaders realise this!
