New Delhi/Ottawa – The diplomatic tensions between India and Canada reached a new high on Monday, with India ordering the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats. This move follows Ottawa’s decision to identify Indian diplomats as "persons of interest" in connection with the investigation into the 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India also announced the recall of its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and other targeted diplomats.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi termed Canada’s accusations as “preposterous imputations,” linking the matter to political challenges faced by the Trudeau government domestically. The six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, and First Secretaries Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka, and Paula Orjuela, have been asked to leave India by 11:59 PM on October 19, 2024.
Trudeau Condemns India's Actions
In a strongly-worded statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned India’s actions as “unacceptable,” accusing the Indian government of supporting criminal activities on Canadian soil. “The government of India made a fundamental error in thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians here, whether it be murders, extortion, or other violent acts,” said Trudeau during a press conference in Ottawa.
Trudeau emphasized that Canada would not tolerate any foreign government's interference in its sovereignty, citing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP) findings of India’s alleged involvement. He called India's actions "a deeply unacceptable violation of Canada's sovereignty and international law.”
India Denies Allegations, Criticizes Canada’s Political Motives
India’s MEA rejected the allegations, accusing Canada of supporting extremist activities and jeopardizing the safety of Indian diplomats. “The baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats is completely unacceptable. We reserve the right to take further steps in response,” said the MEA spokesperson. They highlighted the growing extremism in Canada and the challenges posed by pro-Khalistan elements, criticizing the Trudeau government’s approach.
Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Ajay Bisaria, described Canada’s actions as “a needless escalation,” and urged Ottawa to reconsider its stance to preserve bilateral ties between the two countries.
RCMP’s Allegations & Accusations Against Indian Diplomats
The RCMP held a press conference on the escalating situation, claiming that agents of the Indian government collaborated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to spread terror on Canadian soil. Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gaubin alleged that the Indian government’s agents used organized crime elements for clandestine operations, including gathering intelligence on pro-Khalistani individuals. The RCMP Commissioner, Mike Duheme, confirmed that Indian diplomats were implicated in activities such as homicide, extortion, and coercion, which further fueled tensions between the two nations.
Despite efforts by Canadian officials to collaborate with Indian authorities on the investigation, Trudeau revealed that these attempts were met with resistance. “This is why this weekend Canadian officials took an extraordinary step. They met with Indian officials to share RCMP evidence which concluded six agents of the Government of India are persons of interest in criminal activities,” said Trudeau.
Diplomatic Fallout & Uncertain Future for India-Canada Relations
The withdrawal of High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma marks a significant downgrading of diplomatic ties between India and Canada. Canada, which values its historical ties with India, has expressed disappointment over the situation, emphasizing its desire for cooperation in the investigation into Nijjar’s killing.
The RCMP’s accusations, which include connections to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, have further strained the relationship between the two countries. The RCMP claimed that Indian diplomats in Canada were involved in clandestine activities and presented evidence to India, but faced a lack of cooperation from New Delhi.
As the deadline for the expulsion of the six Canadian diplomats looms, the world watches how this diplomatic standoff will impact the political and economic relations between India and Canada. With the issue of Nijjar’s killing and accusations of foreign interference at the center, the future of India-Canada ties remains uncertain.
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