Canada and India Expel Diplomats Amid Escalating Tensions \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Canada and India expelled six diplomats each on Monday in a growing dispute linked to the June 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Canada accuses India of orchestrating a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens, a claim India has rejected. The diplomatic tensions have escalated, with both nations withdrawing key officials and exchanging heated allegations. This development further strains an already frosty relationship between the two countries, worsened by disputes over Sikh separatist movements.
Canada and India Expel Diplomats Amid Assassination Dispute: Quick Looks
- Diplomatic Tensions: Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, while India retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats.
- Sikh Activist Murder: The expulsions follow Canada’s accusations that Indian agents were involved in the June 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
- Accusations and Denials: Canada claims to have gathered evidence linking Indian agents to the murder, but India has dismissed the allegations as baseless.
- Escalating Relations: The expulsion of diplomats marks the latest flashpoint in a long-standing dispute between the two countries over Sikh separatism and the pro-Khalistan movement.
Deep Look
Diplomatic tensions between Canada and India reached new heights on Monday as both countries expelled six diplomats each in a tit-for-tat move that reflects the growing strain over the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The expulsions come amid allegations from Canada that the Indian government orchestrated a targeted campaign leading to the murder of Nijjar, an accusation that India has vehemently denied.
A Diplomatic Stand-Off: Expulsions and Allegations
On Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, including the country’s high commissioner. The move came after Canadian police allegedly uncovered evidence linking Indian government agents to criminal activities in Canada, including the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader and advocate for Khalistan, the movement for an independent Sikh homeland.
In response, India’s foreign ministry announced that it was expelling six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner and the deputy high commissioner. The expelled Canadian diplomats were given until the end of the week to leave India. The ministry’s statement accused Canada of unjustly targeting Indian diplomats and officials and declared India’s right to take further action if needed.
Earlier on Monday, India had rejected a diplomatic communication from Canada that identified the Indian ambassador as a “person of interest” in the assassination. India also stated that it was withdrawing its diplomats before Canada made its formal expulsion announcement, according to a senior Canadian official. Both officials involved in the matter spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
Canada’s Claims: Evidence of a Targeted Campaign
In a statement following the expulsions, Foreign Minister Joly emphasized that Canadian authorities had gathered substantial evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Nijjar. She revealed that Canadian police had connected the assassination to broader criminal investigations into Indian interference within Canada’s borders. Joly said that India had refused to waive diplomatic immunity or cooperate with the investigation, prompting Canada to issue expulsion notices.
“Regrettably, as India did not agree and given the ongoing public safety concerns for Canadians, Canada served notices of expulsion to these individuals. Subsequent to those notices, India announced it would withdraw its officials,” Joly said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also weighed in on the matter, reiterating previous claims that credible evidence had surfaced linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s assassination. Trudeau initially raised these allegations in 2023, further souring relations between the two countries.
Indian Government’s Response: Rejection of Allegations
The diplomatic row between Canada and India is rooted in tensions surrounding the pro-Khalistan movement, which seeks the establishment of an independent Sikh state. The movement is banned in India, but it enjoys support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada, where Sikhs make up nearly 2% of the population. India has frequently criticized Canada for what it perceives as a lenient stance on Khalistani activists operating within Canadian borders.
In addition to expelling diplomats, the Indian foreign ministry summoned the top Canadian diplomat in New Delhi to formally protest what it called the “baseless targeting” of its high commissioner and other officials in Canada. “We have no faith in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensure their security,” the Indian ministry said, reiterating its discontent with how the situation was being handled.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar: A Controversial Figure
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the 45-year-old Sikh activist at the center of this diplomatic storm, was assassinated in June 2023 while leaving the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. Nijjar was a vocal leader in the Sikh independence movement and an advocate for the creation of Khalistan.
Nijjar, a naturalized Canadian citizen, ran a plumbing business and had long been a prominent figure in the local Sikh community. However, his activism drew ire from Indian authorities, who designated him a terrorist in 2020. At the time of his death, India had been seeking Nijjar’s arrest for his alleged involvement in an attack on a Hindu priest in India.
The circumstances surrounding Nijjar’s assassination remain shrouded in mystery, though Canadian authorities have been investigating potential links between Indian government operatives and the murder. This latest revelation has escalated diplomatic tensions between the two nations, which have been strained over the handling of pro-Khalistan activities.
Ongoing Investigations and Diplomatic Fallout
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been leading the investigation into Nijjar’s murder and the broader allegations of Indian interference. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said that police have gathered substantial evidence that ties Indian agents to criminal activities, including homicides and other violent acts within Canada. However, Duheme declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the investigation.
Brigitte Gauvin, RCMP Assistant Commissioner, described the situation as “extremely concerning,” emphasizing that diplomatic and consular officials should be working to protect the interests of their nationals, not engaging in criminal activity. “That is without a doubt a contravention of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Gauvin said.
The tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats is the latest in a series of moves that highlight the growing tensions between Canada and India. The diplomatic rift began in 2023 when Canada first raised concerns about the potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s assassination. In response, India demanded that Canada remove 41 of its 62 diplomats from Indian soil, further souring relations between the two nations.
The Khalistan Movement and Its Impact on Canada-India Relations
The pro-Khalistan movement has long been a source of friction between Canada and India. While the movement is banned in India, it enjoys support among segments of the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. India has consistently urged these countries to take legal action against pro-Khalistan activists and to curb separatist activities that target Indian interests.
India has been particularly critical of the Trudeau government for what it perceives as a failure to take a strong stance against Khalistani groups operating in Canada. Sikh independence activism, while largely peaceful in Canada, has been a thorny issue in diplomatic relations between the two countries, with India accusing Canada of harboring individuals it views as terrorists.
Looking Ahead: Diplomatic Relations at Risk
The U.S. State Department has also been monitoring developments in the case. On Monday, the department confirmed that an Indian inquiry committee is traveling to Washington to discuss another case involving a plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York. Last year, U.S. prosecutors charged an individual in connection with the thwarted assassination, further raising concerns about Indian agents operating abroad.
As investigations continue, the diplomatic fallout between Canada and India could deepen, with both countries standing firm on their respective positions. With accusations of targeted assassinations, espionage, and interference in each other’s domestic affairs, the stakes in this diplomatic conflict are high, and the path to resolution remains unclear.
