In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, India has ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats while also withdrawing its High Commissioner to Canada and other targeted diplomats. The move comes in response to security concerns raised after Canada identified these diplomats as “persons of interest” in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The diplomatic rift deepened following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the East Asia Summit in Laos last week. Tensions have been rising since Trudeau’s allegations in September 2023, where he suggested possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing, claims that India has dismissed as “absurd” and politically motivated.
The day’s developments began with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issuing a firm response to Canada’s accusations, stating that India “reserves the right to take further steps in response.” While reports indicated that Canada had expelled six Indian diplomats, India clarified that it had withdrawn the diplomats due to security concerns.
In a reciprocal action, India later announced the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler, who was summoned earlier in the day for an explanation. The diplomats were instructed to leave India by October 19, 2024.
The MEA’s statement condemned Canada’s “preposterous imputations” and attributed the actions to the Trudeau Government’s political agenda, which it linked to vote bank politics. While the statement did not directly reference Nijjar, it alluded to allegations made by Trudeau regarding Indian involvement in the separatist leader’s death in June 2023.
The diplomatic ties between the two nations have worsened following these allegations, leading to the current standoff.
