"It is for domestic vote bank": Recalled Indian envoy Sanjay Verma on Canada's hesitance to act against Khalistani elements

New Delhi [India], October 25 : Recalled Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma on Friday shared his insight on the Canadian government's hesitance to act against Khalistani elements and suggested that the reason for Canada's reluctance might be because of some kind of 'benefit,' such as electoral support, financial backing, or community protection.
In a podcast with ANI, Sanjay Verma said that Canada may be weighing political considerations in its approach to Khalistani elements and termed it as a 'domestic vote bank.'
"So to my mind, I can only guess because I'm not sitting there in their cabinet. So I can only guess that they must be getting some benefit out of it. The regime of the day would be getting some benefit, the benefit of support, the benefit of money, the benefit of protection, the benefit of getting elected. So there must be some benefit. So what we have termed it as. It is for the domestic vote bank," he said.
Recalled Indian envoy suggested that domestic political factors could be influencing the Canadian government's reluctance to adequately address the issue, despite the serious threats involved.
Notably, Justin Trudeau suffered a blow when the Jagmeet Singh-led New Democratic Party (NDP) withdrew its support. Canada is now treading in uncertain waters as the NDP helped keep the Trudeau government alive. As per Canadian law, elections will be conducted in Canada by the end of October 2025.
As Trudeau faces declining approval ratings, his recent stance toward India appears to be a strategic move aimed at rallying support from the influential Sikh community ahead of the upcoming federal elections.
"So what happens in the Indo-Canadian community there, Indo-Canadian community for the viewers and listeners is those people who are Canadian citizens of Indian origin. 98 per cent of them go about doing what they do. Living peacefully, taking care of the family, contributing to the Canadian economy, etc. But others are very vocal. And as we have said those babies who cry louder will get attention. So they get fed. And somehow they have been able to build a narrative that these 10,000 of the Khalistani terrorists and extremists represent the Sikh community, which is absolutely incorrect and falsehood. Then the Indian community, which is the Indian diaspora, is also seen as being led by these Khalistanis. And these narratives which had been built over some time tell the regime of the day that they are important," said Verma.
"Secondly, what they have been able to achieve is to put their own people in the parliament, in positions of authority in various departments, including at the lower levels and the upper levels. So they have been able to influence not only the political dimension but also the executives in Canada," claimed Verma.
Adding further, he said, "The institutions in Canada, most of the institutions, also have got recruitments done from, they're Canadians, so they have right to get recruited. So I'm not saying that they cannot. But amongst them, many sides with the Khalistani terrorists and extremists and therefore propagate the narrative in the organizations there."
Verma also answered whether the strong trade relations between Canada and India, along with the significant number of Indian students and people-to-people connections and other advantages are worth losing for a small vote bank.
Replying to many Indian individuals facing challenges as students, such as work, financial aid issues, and visa expirations, the simplest option is often to seek asylum. They are easy targets for the Khalistanis who take them under themselves and then groom them, he said, "The criteria for asylum is to tear apart the Indian flag in front of the High Commission, to trample it under their feet, and to say that if I go to India, I will end up like this. So after doing all this, their channels are made through which they submit the asylum papers. Now, the people there should understand how fake documents are being sent. My advice is that no one can pressure them. They are a sovereign country. They should send us to check. Look, it has come from your place. Can you check who has signed it?"
"Not just that. Whoever has created the certificate. He has created it or it has been made falsely. You see, it is like this if we get a paper with a signature like that. We will change the name there and get it signed. Who knows whose signature it is there? What is meant by letterhead, there is a letterhead there. So at least get that done. And two good friends will do just that. But if you doubt me, then you will never do it. So the element of doubt was created and built directly," said Verma.
"It's been going on for many years. It's not a new phenomenon. You are looking at at least 40 years," remarked Sanjay Verma.
Sanjay Verma was recalled from Canada after the country said he was a person of interest in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case; however, he denied all charges levelled against him by Ottawa.
The ties between India and Canada soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he had "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Nijjar.
India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.
Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.