Former Canadian PM Stephen Harper has appealed to all Canadian political parties to cut ties with separatist groups attacking India, including Khalistani groups. Addressing a Canada-India charity event in Brampton, Stephen Harper referred to the Khalistan movement as a fringe group and warned that its existence is a danger to Indo-Canadian relations as well as to Canada’s national unity.
He also condemned politicians for making overtures to polarizing groups and reminded them of his government’s unequivocal opposition to extremism during his time in office.
‘Sever All Ties With Separatists’
Stephen Harper made the comments at the 5th Canada India Charity Gala, hosted by Impact Media and Events Coordination (IMEC). There, he was awarded the Global Impact Award.
He informed the gathering that if Canada is going to enjoy a good relationship with India, every political party has to sever connections with separatist groups attempting to take India’s internal strifes to the Canadian terrain.
“Any party that wants to govern must cut ties with those who want to divide the great country that is modern India,” Harper stated.
Khalistan is a Fringe Movement
Stephen Harper directly spoke to the Khalistani issue. He stated it is only a fringe group of Indo-Canadians, as well as Sikh Canadians. He stated he never was aware of why Canadian politicians gave the group so much attention.
Throughout his own term, Stephen Harper stated, his caucus had “no contact whatsoever with the Khalistani movement.” He hoped that all political parties operating at present would adopt the same policy and go back to that strict approach.
India-Canada relations bottomed out in September 2023. Indian agents might have had something to do with the assassination of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed Parliament. India categorically denied them, labelling them as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Harper’s Long-Standing Stand
This is not Harper’s first warning against Canadian indulgence with separatists. In November 2023, and previously in 2019, he urged an end to being indulgent with such divisive elements as Khalistanis, jihadists, and Tamil Tigers. He also issued a warning against bringing “age-old hatreds” into Canadian society.
Stephen Harper also spearheaded the formation of the Kanishka bombing inquiry that probed the 1985 Air India Flight 182 attack. That bombing, carried out by Khalistani extremists, is Canada’s worst terror attack.
His administration apologized for the intelligence lapses that resulted in the tragedy and adopted the “one, united India” policy that still informs Canadian foreign policy.
Call for Unity and Responsibility
Stephen Harper concluded his address with a call for Canada and India to restore relations by putting aside differences and cooperating as sophisticated democracies.
The message was forthright: Canada needed to defend its values by resisting polarizing forces, both within and outside the country.
