Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, accusing them of involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and targeting Indian dissidents in Canada, Reuters reports.
India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, and withdrew its envoy in response, marking a significant deterioration in relations between the two nations.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that there is “clear and compelling evidence” of India’s involvement in violent acts that threaten public safety, including espionage, coercion, and murder. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that India has undertaken a campaign against Indian dissidents, utilizing organized crime, including the “Bishnoi group,” to target the South Asian community in Canada.
India’s government denied the accusations, accusing Trudeau of pushing a political agenda. Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that the expulsion of the diplomats was necessary after India did not cooperate with requests to waive their diplomatic immunity for investigation.
Additionally, the US has also accused India of involvement in an assassination attempt of another Sikh separatist leader in New York, further complicating international relations.
