In signs of heightening diplomatic tensions, India and Canada on Monday expelled each other's diplomats after their latest spat over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Earlier on October 14, India retaliated strongly after the Justin Trudeau government told New Delhi that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are "persons of interest" in the probe into Nijjar's killing, which took place on Canadian soil last year.
India followed this up by expelling six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert. It also recalled High Commissioner Sanjay Verma.
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The other diplomats expelled are Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka and Paula Orjuela (all first secretaries).
The ministry of external affairs (MEA) said that the Canadian diplomats must leave the country by 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
The MEA cited safety concerns amid rising extremism and violence, deeming the "baseless targeting" of Indian officials by Ottawa as “completely unacceptable.”
"We have no faith in the current Canadian government's commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the government of India has decided to withdraw the high commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials," the MEA said.
Later, in a tit-for-tat move, Canada announced that it has expelled six Indian diplomats, including the Indian High Commissioner, according to local media reports cited by PTI.
The latest diplomatic rift erupted after Canada yet again raked up India's connection in the killing of Nijjar, a pro-Khalistani separatist - a charge vehemently denied by New Delhi.
Nijjar was allegedly gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
In a hard-hitting media statement on October 14 morning, India said that it "strongly rejects these preposterous imputations" and "ascribes them to the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau Government that is centred around vote bank politics."
It said that Prime Minister Trudeau’s "hostility" towards India has long been in evidence and warned Canada of a strong response.
Verma and other officials will return from Canada in the next few days, PTI reported.
Tensions between India and Canada intensified after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged potential involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s murder last year. India has consistently dismissed these allegations as “absurd” and politically motivated, leading to a deteriorating relationship between the two countries.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trudeau had a "brief exchange" on the sidelines of the East Asia summit in Laos.
(With inputs from agencies)
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