During a conference⁢ in New Delhi last month, former Prime⁣ Minister Stephen⁢ Harper voiced his concerns regarding ⁢the deteriorating relationship between canada and India.⁢ He suggested that the Liberal Party might have been infiltrated by Sikh activists advocating for a separate⁢ state⁤ from India.

Harper stated, “Frankly, I have been deeply saddened by the steady deterioration ⁤of that relationship under⁤ my ⁤successor. I don’t believe I entirely understand the reason for it.” He made these remarks during ⁣a ⁤conference held on February 28 in New Delhi,‍ titled ‍the Raisina Dialog.

Harper’s Viewpoint on Strengthening Ties

Harper emphasized the importance of focusing on interpersonal connections between Canadians and Indians, rather than engaging with pro-Khalistan‍ activists. “It is time that all political parties and all politicians in Canada focus on strengthening interpersonal ties,⁣ which reaches the vast ‍majority of our population, instead of establishing relationships with pro-Khalistan militants,” he asserted.

I congratulate the government of Prime Minister Modi for not having disrupted these interpersonal ties given the current coolness between the governments.

Stephen Harper, ‍former Prime Minister of Canada

He⁤ acknowledged the right to hold pro-Khalistan views in Canada, stating, “In Canada, one has the right to be pro-Khalistan. It’s a ⁢democratic opinion, but this opinion should not infiltrate our ‍governing party and should not ‍hinder good ⁢relations between India and Canada.”

The Indian leader is known to be close to Harper, who chairs the International Democrat Union, a⁣ global coalition of conservative parties that once included Modi’s Bharatiya ‍Janata Party.

In 2019, Harper visited Modi in India and described ⁣him on X (formerly ⁢Twitter)⁤ as a ⁣friend and the “most crucial leader of India since independence,” who is “shaping all conversations on ⁤geopolitics and the global economy.”

Concerns Over Indian Foreign Interference

An inquiry into foreign⁢ interference identified india as “the second most active country in terms of foreign electoral interference in Canada,” especially concerning the Khalistan issue.

The⁢ inquiry reported, “india ⁤focuses its foreign interference activities on the Indo-Canadian community and on non-Indo-canadian ‍figures to achieve its objectives.” It further stated, “Intelligence indicates that proxy agents may have provided,⁣ and continue to provide, illicit financial support to various Canadian politicians to ensure the⁢ election of ‍pro-indian candidates or to exert influence ‍over elected candidates.” The inquiry noted that some of these⁢ candidates might be unaware of India’s influence.

The Canadian Press contacted Harper’s consulting firm for comments ⁤but did not receive a response.

During the conference, Harper also ‍cautioned that the global order is deteriorating and suggested that middle powers like India and Canada should⁤ collaborate more on critical minerals and intelligence, rather than fostering a culture⁤ of powerful spheres of influence.

“The world⁣ that is emerging is not desirable⁣ for ‍humanity. In fact, this state of affairs is disturbingly ⁢reflective of the rivalries of ⁢the pre-First World War, and history shows us where that led,” he noted.

“God help us as we enter a new period⁤ of this type, marked by the combination of advanced‍ weaponry and computing power.” Harper also recognized that tariffs imposed ⁢by Donald Trump ⁢on canada⁣ were unjustified and expressed concern over the U.S. president’s “seemingly agnostic ‍view” toward democratic nations, citing his “gratuitous attacks against countries like Canada ⁤and Denmark” while growing closer⁢ to russia and Turkey.