Amritsar: In a move that could potentially cement India-Canada relations, which had suffered a severe setback in recent years, the commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Mike Duheme, has clarified that there is no active threat to Canadians from agents linked to India.Duheme reportedly said while instances of transnational repression are being observed, these do not always point to a specific foreign entity. He further clarified that earlier remarks made in 2024 were based on an ongoing criminal investigation at the time and may have been misinterpreted.Relations between Canada and India deteriorated sharply after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The remarks triggered diplomatic tensions and reciprocal actions from both sides.Duheme emphasised the need for public cooperation, urging citizens to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies to enable coordinated action.His clarification reduces direct attribution against India, creating space for diplomatic recalibration. By softening the narrative around state involvement, both nations can shift focus towards law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing, and trade engagement.However, a section of Sikhs in Canada has expressed disappointment following comments by RCMP commissioner.The World Sikh Organization (WSO), in a release issued on Friday, said, “While commissioner Duheme indicated that criminal investigations may not presently reveal clear or direct connections to foreign entities, the commissioner’s remarks appear to rely on a narrow view of active criminal investigations, rather than the broader intelligence and security landscape.”WSO president Danish Singh said, “It’s disappointing to once again see our govt and now the RCMP playing word games to shield the Govt of India at a time when Prime Minister Carney is actively seeking to increase economic ties,” adding that for the average Canadian, the commissioner’s words will be understood to mean India is no longer engaging in foreign interference or transnational repression in Canada which is not true.
