On Monday, Canada and India each expelled six diplomats in reciprocal actions amid a deepening dispute over the assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada in June 2023.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced that Canada would remove six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, following police findings that revealed a coordinated effort by Indian government agents targeting Canadian citizens.
Shortly after, the Indian foreign ministry announced the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner and the deputy high commissioner. They were instructed to leave India by the end of Saturday.
Earlier that day, the ministry stated that it would withdraw its diplomats after rejecting a Canadian diplomatic communication from Sunday, which identified the Indian ambassador as a “person of interest” in the assassination.
A senior Canadian official indicated that Canada expelled the Indian diplomats first before India’s withdrawal. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public comments regarding the issue.
In a statement, Mélanie Joly mentioned that police had obtained information linking criminal investigations to Indian government agents. She noted that India was asked to waive diplomatic and consular immunities and to assist with the investigation.
“Unfortunately, since India did not agree and due to ongoing public safety concerns for Canadians, Canada issued expulsion notices to these individuals. Following that, India announced its decision to withdraw its officials,” Joly stated.
Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that there were credible allegations linking the Indian government to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.
Mélanie Joly emphasized in her statement that the decision to expel the diplomats was made thoughtfully, following extensive and clear evidence gathered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case.
“We continue to request the Indian government’s cooperation in the ongoing investigation into the Nijjar case, as it is in the best interest of both our countries to uncover the truth,” she added.
RCMP officer Mike Duheme reported that evidence suggests ties between Indian government agents and other homicides and violent incidents in Canada. While he refrained from sharing specific details, he mentioned that there have been more than a dozen credible and imminent threats, leading police to issue warnings to members of the South Asian community, particularly those involved in the pro-Khalistan or Sikh independence movement. He also noted that attempts to engage in discussions with Indian law enforcement had not been fruitful.
“The team has gathered significant insights into the extensive and serious criminal activities conducted by agents of the Indian government, which pose threats to the safety and security of Canadians and those residing in Canada,” Duheme stated.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin expressed that this situation is extremely concerning.
“Indian diplomats and consular officials are meant to safeguard the interests of their citizens in Canada and represent their country’s interests, not engage in criminal actions or intimidation. We take this very seriously, as it clearly violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” Gauvin remarked.
India has dismissed the accusations as absurd.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead in June 2023 in his pickup truck shortly after leaving the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia. A Canadian citizen originally from India, he owned a plumbing business and was a prominent figure in the declining movement for an independent Sikh homeland.
India had designated him a terrorist in 2020 and was seeking his arrest at the time of his death due to his alleged involvement in an attack on a Hindu priest.
In response to the allegations, India requested Canada remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country last year. Since then, relations between the two nations have been strained.
The pro-Khalistan movement remains a contentious issue between India and Canada. New Delhi has consistently criticized Trudeau’s government for being lenient towards supporters of the Khalistan movement in Canada. Although the Khalistan movement is banned in India, it has considerable support among the Sikh diaspora, especially in Canada.
India has urged countries like Canada, Australia, and the U.K. to take legal action against Sikh activists. This concern has been particularly emphasized regarding Canada, where Sikhs account for nearly 2% of the population.
On Monday, the Indian foreign ministry stated that “India reserves the right to take further action in response to the Trudeau government’s backing of extremism, violence, and separatism against India.”
The ministry also summoned Canada’s top diplomat in New Delhi, asserting that the “baseless targeting” of the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats in Canada is “completely unacceptable.”
“We do not trust the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensure their safety,” it added.
Stewart Wheeler, the Canadian diplomat ordered to leave India, told reporters after his meeting that his government has presented “incredible and irrefutable evidence” linking agents of the Indian government to the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.
Wheeler urged India to investigate the allegations and stated that Canada “stands ready to cooperate with India.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced that an Indian inquiry committee set up to investigate a plot to assassinate another prominent Sikh separatist leader residing in New York would be traveling to Washington on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing case.
The statement also mentioned that India has informed the United States that it continues to investigate other connections related to a former government employee and will determine the necessary follow-up steps.
Last year, U.S. prosecutors claimed that an Indian government official orchestrated the plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, charging a man linked to the foiled conspiracy.
Although the Indian government official was not named or charged, he was described as a “senior field officer” responsible for security management and intelligence, having previously served in India’s Central Reserve Police Force.
At that time, New Delhi expressed concern after the U.S. raised the matter, stating that India takes it very seriously.
