Trudeau’s murder charge risks upending US courtship of India

Agencies
September 20, 2023

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s shocking allegations that India orchestrated the murder of a separatist leader leaves President Joe Biden caught between one of the US’s closest allies and an increasingly important partner in countering China.

Narendra Modi’s government on Tuesday denied that it had anything to do with the slaying of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada, calling the allegation “absurd.” Both nations expelled one of the other’s diplomats, and that’s before Canada has made any evidence public.

The White House reacted cautiously, with National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson saying the administration was “deeply concerned” and called on India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation. A US official acknowledged the allegations pose a problem for Biden, who just left India with relations seemingly on track.

Now the episode threatens to upend the US’s effort to court India as a counterweight to China, which was on display at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi earlier this month. The US and its allies had hailed Modi’s success in reaching a compromise on a joint communique, accepting softer language on Russia’s war in Ukraine to align itself more broadly with India in the battle with China for influence among major emerging economies.

“The Biden administration is in a no-win situation with this latest bombshell,” said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation. “If it sides with Ottawa, then New Delhi will be up in arms and, once again, question the loyalty of Washington. If it sides with New Delhi, then the US is contradicting a NATO ally.”

The US frequently finds itself torn between its efforts to defend human rights around the world and the pragmatic need to partner with government accused of regular abuses to protect its geopolitical interests. That leads to periodic tensions, such as when agents from Saudi Arabia murdered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Trudeau told lawmakers on Monday there were “credible allegations” that agents of the Indian government were behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia in June. Nijjar, 45 at the time and the temple’s president, was outspoken in both his advocacy for the creation of an independent Khalistan in the northwest and his criticism of human rights violations in India.

“The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness,” Trudeau said on Tuesday morning. Canada is going to “remain calm, we’re going to remain grounded in our democratic principles and values, and we’re going to follow the evidence and make sure that the work is done to hold people to account,” he added.

India has denied any involvement and blasted Canada for failing to take action against Sikh separatism. India had declared Nijjar a wanted terrorist and accused him of conspiring to murder a Hindu priest, among other allegations.

Without a resolution, the dispute threatens everything from pending talks to expand the modest $11 billion India-Canada trade relationship to communications between the two countries’ militaries, something that could create a headache for Biden as he seeks greater cohesion from partner nations.

Modi’s government sees Trudeau as politically beholden to the Sikh community, and expects relations with Canada to deteriorate, according to an Indian official with knowledge of the situation. At the same time, the person said, India-US security cooperation is on a strong footing and is unlikely to affected by Canada’s allegations.

“There is this evergreen challenge that the US and some of its allies face with India, concerns about what they regard as democratic backsliding,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. “But at the same time they want to ensure they don’t risk imperiling relations with a country that they view as strategically critical. Honestly, I think Washington will just stay quiet.”

The historical issue of Sikh separatism has troubled Canada-India relations for years, and politicians in both countries have tapped into the issue to win votes. Canada has the largest Sikh population outside of Punjab after many left following riots in 1984. They have also become an important political group, including within Trudeau’s administration. Modi’s party, meanwhile, has pushed policies appealing to voters who see India as a Hindu nation.

India has been historically prickly about public criticism from the US and its allies, and the US has said that it tries to voice concerns behind close doors. Speaking in Vietnam after his G-20 visit to India this month, Biden said he had raised rights issues in his recent meeting with Modi, though it’s unclear if they discussed Nijjar’s killing.

For its part, Canada pledged in a recently published strategy for the Indo-Pacific region to grow ties with India across a range of areas, while also acknowledging its growing strategic importance. The two sides had also previously expected to agree to a trade pact by end of this year but that was put on hold ahead of the G-20 summit. Canada last week postponed a trade mission to India that had been set for October.

As the India-Canada relationship worsens, the US will face a tough balancing act, according to Vivek Mishra, senior fellow at New Delhi based Observer Research Foundation.

“I expect there will certainly be back-channel discussion between the US and India on how to proceed further,” he said. “With Canada being a NATO ally and India being a strategic partner ally, the US will have to do the tightrope walk.”

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 11,2025

Mangaluru, June 12: Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader visited the home of Abdul Rahman, who was tragically murdered on May 27 in Kolathamajalu, Bantwal taluk, and extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

Speaking during the visit on Wednesday, Khader expressed deep sorrow over the incident and said,

“I was on the Hajj pilgrimage when this devastating event took place. This is not just a murder—it is an attack on the peaceful and communal harmony of Dakshina Kannada. A civilised society cannot and will not tolerate such acts. No religion or community supports violence of this nature.”

Khader emphasized that the state government is committed to delivering justice.

“I have discussed the matter with the Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, Superintendent of Police, as well as the Chief Minister and Home Minister. The family and villagers have strongly demanded that all perpetrators be identified and brought to justice. The government will take firm action to ensure such incidents do not recur,” he assured.

When asked about possible compensation for Rahman’s family, the Speaker responded, “Matters like compensation cannot be discussed publicly. I will consult with the District In-charge Minister, and I am confident the government will act as per the legal provisions.”

Responding to questions about the transfer of senior police officials, Khader clarified that the decisions to replace the Commissioner of Police and the SP were already in progress prior to his departure for Hajj.

“The transfers had been planned earlier. Unfortunately, the incident occurred before they could be implemented,” he noted.

He further added that he had urged police leadership to act decisively in response to rising tensions on social media and provocative content:

“When threats and inflammatory posts began circulating online, I instructed both the Commissioner and SP to take immediate action. Since the provocations continued, I held discussions with the DGP and Home Minister to ensure that proactive and effective officers are appointed in Dakshina Kannada.”

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News Network
June 19,2025

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Tehran/ Tel Aviv, June 19: Iranian armed forces carried out the fourteenth phase of Operation True Promise III on Thursday, unleashing a barrage of ballistic missiles on the occupied territories.

The new wave constituted dozens of new-generation missiles that managed to pierce through multi-tier Israeli air defense systems to strike their targets in Tel Aviv.

Despite sweeping censorship, videos circulating on social media showed panic-stricken settlers rushing toward underground shelters as air raid sirens blared across the occupied territories.

According to some reports, at least 50 ballistic missiles, including those being used for the first time in Operation True Promise III, were spotted in the skies over the occupied territories.

The regime in Tel Aviv has imposed ban on publication of any report regarding casualties or collateral damage, however, some reports put the death toll on Thursday at over 50.

Many buildings belonging to the Israeli regime, including its military and intelligence, were targeted in the latest wave, proving the increasing inefficacy of much-hyped air defenses.

Nuclear reactor attacked

Meanwhile, Israel attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor (a type of nuclear reactor), on Thursday morning. 

Iran had evacuated the Arak facility before the attack and there was “no radiation danger”, state TV said in a report on the bombing.

Israel authorities reported 28 people had been injured in the attacks across the country, three of them seriously. Israeli police ordered people to stay away from the hospital because of the risk of hazardous materials leaking from damaged wards.

Netanyahu’s warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Iran will “pay a heavy price” after its missile attack damaged Israel’s Soroka hospital in Be’er Sheva.
“This morning, Iran’s terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva and at civilians in the centre of the country,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X. “We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay a heavy price.”

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News Network
June 17,2025

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Tehran / Tel Aviv, June 17: As the Israeli aggression on Iran entered its fifth day, Zionist army’s air offensive intensified with direct strikes on civilian infrastructure killing scores of children and women. 

Israel also has bombed hospitals, media centers, and residential areas in Tehran. Iran has called the escalation “a war on civilians,” as humanitarian agencies warn of a growing catastrophe in the heart of the Iranian capital.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of major developments:

1. Israel Strikes Civilian Infrastructure in Tehran

•    In a marked shift from earlier military-only targets, Israeli warplanes struck key civilian infrastructure in Tehran early Monday.

•    Two hospitals – including a maternity unit – were damaged, with casualties reported among medical staff, women, and children, according to Iran’s health ministry.

•    Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB was also targeted, with live footage showing a news anchor abandoning her studio mid-broadcast as the building shook.

•    Several journalists are feared dead or injured. The Iranian Journalists Union condemned what it called “a blatant attack on press freedom and civilian safety.”

2. Mass Evacuations Ordered in Central Tehran

•    Iranian authorities ordered the evacuation of nearly 330,000 residents from central Tehran as fresh air raids were expected.

•    The evacuation zone includes the state broadcaster’s headquarters, major police offices, and densely populated residential areas.

•    Footage showed thousands fleeing with belongings, amid rising panic and reports of power and communication outages.

3. Smoke and Blasts Reported in Other Cities

•    Thick smoke was seen rising over the city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran after a large explosion was reported around 8:45am local time.

•    Meanwhile, Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Herzliya, experienced air raid sirens and reported damage due to what appears to be Iranian retaliatory strikes.

•    Jerusalem also reported loud explosions as sirens wailed across the country.

4. Israel Claims Killing Top Iranian Commander

•    The Israeli military announced the assassination of Lt. Gen. Ali Shadmani, head of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters – a top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official.

•    Shadmani had assumed the role after the earlier killing of Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid just three days prior.

•    Israel described him as “the most senior Iranian commander” and said he was close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

•    Iran has not yet officially confirmed the killing.

5. Netanyahu Makes Provocative Statement on Khamenei

•    Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said killing Iran’s Supreme Leader would not escalate the conflict but rather “end it.”

•    International observers and rights groups condemned the remarks as reckless, warning against deliberate targeting of heads of state under international law.

6. Trump Calls for Tehran Evacuation, Pushes for Talks

•    Former US President Donald Trump, posting on his social platform, called for “immediate evacuation” of Tehran, writing: “IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.”

•    According to Axios, Washington is pushing for a diplomatic breakthrough.

•    Sources said talks are being explored between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss both a nuclear deal and a ceasefire.

7. Humanitarian Toll Rising, Global Concern Grows

•    The UN and several human rights groups have raised alarms over the targeting of civilian areas, hospitals, and media institutions.

•    A UN official said: “These strikes risk breaching the Geneva Conventions and escalating an already volatile regional crisis.”

•    Rescue teams in Tehran reported difficulties in operating due to ongoing airstrikes, blocked roads, and damaged infrastructure.

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