India’s High Commissioner Criticizes Canada Over Four-Decade Terror Inaction
India's High Commissioner accuses Canada of failing to act against terrorism for decades.
In a candid and pointed interview on CBC, India's High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, accused Canadian authorities of failing for the past 40 years to take meaningful action against terrorist elements operating freely on Canadian soil. He argued that this long-standing inaction has created a safe haven for extremists targeting India, directly referencing the still-unresolved 1985 Air India bombing that killed 329 people—mostly Canadian citizens—with no successful prosecutions despite decades of investigation.
The discussion quickly turned to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, with the CBC anchor pressing claims of "credible information" linking Indian agents to the crime. Patnaik firmly rejected these allegations, demanding concrete evidence and dismissing them as baseless accusations that lack substantiation. He countered by highlighting Canada's repeated refusal to act on Indian-provided intelligence about active terrorists, noting that similar demands for proof are applied inconsistently depending on which side makes the claim.
Patnaik accused Ottawa of maintaining double standards: insisting on irrefutable evidence when India identifies suspected extremists, yet expecting India to respond to unproven charges against its government. He clarified that New Delhi has no objection to peaceful political activities or referendums, but strongly opposes individuals wanted for serious crimes or engaged in terrorist activities abroad. The envoy categorically denied any official involvement by the Government of India, asserting that any proven wrongdoing by an individual would be addressed internally without external prompting.
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Emphasizing the principle of "innocent until proven guilty," Patnaik urged both nations to allow legal processes to determine facts rather than relying on unsubstantiated narratives. He pointed out that the current court proceedings in Surrey involve four private individuals, not the Indian state, and questioned why no formal case has been brought against India itself if the allegations hold weight. The High Commissioner stressed that genuine cooperation on security matters remains essential for any meaningful improvement in bilateral relations.
The interview coincides with signs of a potential reset in India-Canada ties, including Prime Minister Mark Carney's openness to visiting India and reviving economic partnership discussions. While acknowledging that both sides are "catching up" after a prolonged diplomatic chill, Patnaik made it clear that sustainable progress depends on Canada adopting a far more serious and consistent approach to countering terrorism. He concluded that until evidence-based action replaces decades of inaction, the trust deficit will persist.
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