Crime, Politics, and Diplomacy: What’s Really Behind the India-Canada Rift?

India’s relationship with Canada witnessed a significant low last week when both the countries expelled six diplomats each, after the accusations made by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.  RCMP Commissioner and his deputy alleged that Lawrence Bishnoi, along with his gang is linked to the Indian Government’s “agents” and is working in unison, targeting Pro Khalistanis in Canada. 

Punjab-born Lawrence Bishnoi, a well-known Indian mobster and crime syndicate, is incarcerated in Sabarmati, Gujarat. He has been connected to several well-known cases and his activities have garnered international recognition. According to Indian investigators, Bishnoi leads a gang of 700 people from his prison cell in Sabarmati, which spans many Indian states. In Punjab alone, authorities are hunting down almost 2,500 known hiding places utilized by the group's hitmen. The notorious Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the assassination of popular musician Siddhu Moose Wala in 2022 and, more recently, for the political death of Baba Siddique.

Now, Canadian officials suspect that Bishnoi’s network extends beyond India. 

“From an RCMP perspective, we have seen that they use organized crime elements. It has been publicly attributed and claimed by one organized crime group in particular which is the Bishnoi group here in Canada. We believe the group is connected to agents of the Government of India”, remarked the RCMP Commissioner and Deputy.

Bishnoi has been incarcerated since 2015, and moved from jail to jail in various parts of India, before landing at his current location, the Sabarmati prison. Many experts say those moves put him into contact with prisoners steeped in India's criminal underworld and enabled Bishnoi to very rapidly expand his network.

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau also alleged that Indian diplomats were collecting information on Canadians and passing it on to organized crime groups to target Canadians. India has denied these allegations as “preposterous,” challenging Ottawa to provide evidence. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated, “This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains.” Despite India's repeated requests, Canada has not provided proof for its allegations, fueling suspicions that political motives may be at play. This diplomatic clash is set against a long-standing tension between India and Canada over Sikh separatism. The Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh state, has deep historical roots in India, particularly in Punjab, where the movement originated. While the movement has lost traction within India over the years, it has found support within segments of the Sikh diaspora in Canada, where activists have voiced concerns about the alleged mistreatment of Sikhs in India. This diaspora-driven momentum has remained a sensitive issue for India and has frequently strained bilateral relations. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that despite many requests to provide proof for Canada’s allegations, there has been no response. “This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains”. 

A significant implication of this rift is the future of extradition treaties between India and Canada. Last Thursday, India's foreign ministry pointed out that there are 26 pending extradition requests for gangsters, including members of the Bishnoi group, that India wants to be returned and prosecuted, which they say Canada has ignored. 

Even though Canada and India signed an extradition treaty in 1987, only six fugitives sought by India have been returned to the country from 2002 to 2020. In June, a standing committee of Canada’s Parliament called for the country to withdraw from extradition treaties with 10 countries, including India, that do not meet “international human rights standards”. 

The committee also called for an end to extradition to countries where police are known to torture suspects. Even though Canada’s 2015 Anti-Terrorism Act criminalizes anyone “who, by communicating statements, knowingly advocates or promotes the commission of terrorism offences,” the legislation has not been used to target advocacy of Khalistan, or celebration of terrorist crimes committed in India.

The situation with Bishnoi illustrates how organized crime can complicate diplomatic relations. Effective international cooperation is vital for nations to handle complex issues involving transnational crime while also managing domestic political pressures. The growing tension between India and Canada highlights the challenges nations face when addressing criminal networks that transcend borders, particularly when intertwined with political movements.

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