Most Indians Support India’s Move to Expel Canadian Diplomats, News18 Survey Finds

A recent survey has shown that most Indians are backing India’s decision to expel Canadian diplomats, with some now viewing Canada as an “unfriendly” country. The survey, titled News18 Network Pulse: India’s Verdict on Canada, gathered over 4,200 responses from people across the country, capturing how feelings toward Canada have shifted following recent events.

What the Survey Reveals

According to the survey:

• 86.45% of Indians agree with India’s choice to send Canadian diplomats back to their country.
• 32.88% now see Canada as “unfriendly,” while 33.78% feel neutral, viewing Canada as neither a friend nor an enemy.

Why India-Canada Relations are Souring

The tension started when India expelled six Canadian diplomats and brought back its own representatives from Canada. This move followed Canada’s decision to investigate Indian officials in connection with the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a man India considers a terrorist.

India believes that Canada is not doing enough to control the actions of some Khalistani supporters (people who push for a separate Sikh state) living in Canada. There are around 800,000 Sikhs in Canada, and the Indian government claims that certain extremist groups within this community are working against India’s unity.

Canadians' Reaction and India's Concern

The survey also shows:

• 82.35% of respondents feel that Canada is ignoring dangerous activities linked to Khalistani groups. People think that by ignoring this, Canada is allowing extremists to spread violence and create problems for India.
• A striking 95.77% of those surveyed believe that Canada has not shown any clear evidence to support its claims against India in Nijjar’s case.

What Led to This Point

Relations between the two countries worsened significantly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke in Canada’s Parliament. He claimed there were “credible allegations” that India was linked to Nijjar’s death. Nijjar, labeled as a terrorist by India, was killed on June 18, 2023, outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. India has firmly denied these allegations, calling them “absurd and motivated.”

The Bottom Line

The survey shows a strong sentiment among Indians in favor of the Indian government’s recent steps against Canada. The lack of evidence from Canada regarding Nijjar’s death, combined with Canada’s supposed tolerance of extremist activities, has led many Indians to view Canada as less of a friend

Sources: MoneyControl, News18, Internet Sources & Twitter X 

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