(Commonwealth_ India) In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, India and Canada have expelled their top envoys and several other diplomats amid an ongoing dispute over the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil last year. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that his government took decisive action after credible allegations emerged implicating Indian agents in Nijjar’s murder.
Trudeau emphasized that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had uncovered credible evidence suggesting that Indian operatives were involved in not only Nijjar’s killing but also in various criminal activities targeting supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement—an initiative advocating for a separate Sikh homeland. The Prime Minister described India’s involvement in these “criminal” acts as a “fundamental error” and asserted the necessity of addressing these threats to public safety in Canada.
In response, India vehemently rejected the allegations, labeling them “preposterous.” The Indian government accused Trudeau of exploiting the situation for political gain among Canada’s substantial Sikh community. Following Trudeau’s announcement, relations between the two nations deteriorated rapidly, with India demanding the withdrawal of numerous Canadian diplomats and suspending visa services.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a stern statement, asserting that Sikh separatist groups influenced the allegations. Subsequently, India announced the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats, including acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, who has until October 19 to leave the country. India also withdrew its High Commissioner and other diplomatic staff, citing a lack of confidence in the Canadian government’s ability to ensure their safety.
During a press briefing, Wheeler remarked that Canada had provided India with the evidence it requested and urged for an investigation into the allegations. He stated, “It is in the interests of both our countries and the peoples of our countries to get to the bottom of this.” The RCMP has taken the unusual step of publicly disclosing details of its investigation due to what it described as significant threats to public safety in Canada, specifically highlighting over a dozen credible intimidations to associates of the pro-Khalistan movement. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme characterized these threats as serious enough to warrant public intervention.
Nijjar, a prominent supporter of the Khalistan movement, was shot dead by two masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. He had been described by Indian authorities as a terrorist leader of a militant separatist group—an assertion that his supporters have strongly disputed. The RCMP has classified Nijjar’s killing as a “targeted attack.”
In September 2023, Trudeau informed the Canadian Parliament that allegations of Indian involvement were based on intelligence assessments and deemed the act a violation of Canada’s sovereignty. While diplomatic relations appeared to improve slightly following India’s resumption of visa processing in October 2023, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly recently characterized the relationship as “tense” and very difficult, cautioning the possibility of further violent events on Canadian soil. As the situation unfolds, the diplomatic landscape between India and Canada remains precarious, with both nations standing firm in their positions and the implications of this diplomatic rift continuing to evolve.
