By love-89.com On October 14, in a statement that further escalates the already tense relations between Canada and India, both countries announced the expulsion of six diplomats, including a high commissioner from each side. This move comes in the wake of Canada’s allegations that the Indian government and its agents were involved in serious criminal activities within Canadian territory.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded to Canada’s communication, received on October 13, which claimed that its High Commissioner and other diplomats were “suspects” in an ongoing Canadian investigation. India vehemently rejected these “absurd allegations,” attributing them to what it criticized as Prime Minister Trudeau’s “political agenda rooted in electoral vote bank politics.” Additionally, India accused the Canadian government of supporting extremist, violent, and separatist movements against India.
In retaliation, India announced the recall of its High Commissioner to Canada, Vikram Verma, along with other targeted diplomats. India also expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting High Commissioner, Wheeler, demanding their departure by Saturday, October 19.
In its press release, Canada’s Global Affairs stated that India’s decision to recall its diplomats followed Canada’s notification for their expulsion. The Canadian government cited the involvement of Indian government-linked agents in targeted attacks against Canadian citizens as the reason for their expulsions. Canada also indicated that India’s refusal to lift diplomatic and consular immunity for the implicated individuals hampered their investigation.
Trudeau characterized India’s actions as a “grave mistake” in comments made to the media in Ottawa. During a press conference the same day, the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Dumham, revealed that investigations into a series of violent crimes, including murder and extortion, over recent years indicated a concerning pattern of violent extremism affecting both nations. The RCMP noted evidence linking Indian government agents to murder and violence, organized criminal activity creating an atmosphere of insecurity within the South Asian community in Canada, and interference in the democratic process.
The RCMP specifically accused Indian diplomats and consular officials of being involved in covert activities aimed at gathering intelligence and coercing individuals.
Canada’s Public Safety Minister, Leblanc, highlighted that despite law enforcement actions taken by the RCMP and others, related criminal activities persist and pose an ongoing and serious threat to public safety, particularly to Sikh communities in Canada.
Foreign Minister Joly indicated that Canada would maintain dialogue through its High Commission in India and continue pressing for support in uncovering the truth regarding the murder of Nijjar.
Nijjar, a 45-year-old Indo-Canadian, was assassinated outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. A prominent supporter of the Khalistan movement and a Sikh leader, he had immigrated to Canada from India in the 1990s and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government in 2020.
Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government of involvement in Nijjar’s murder during a session of Parliament on September 18, 2022, which subsequently led to a diplomatic crisis involving mutual expulsions of diplomats and a suspension of visa services for Canadians by India. In October 2022, India unilaterally revoked diplomatic immunity for all personnel except for 21 Canadian diplomats and their families in New Delhi, leading Canada to withdraw over 40 diplomats and their families from India. Trade negotiations between the two countries were also put on hold. Currently, Canada has arrested several suspects in the Nijjar case and has brought charges against them, with investigators believing these individuals were acting on behalf of the Indian government in planning the assassination.