INDIA and Canada have expelled senior diplomats in a growing dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. On Monday, Canada ordered the removal of six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, accusing them of involvement in the killing and linking them to a broader campaign against Indian dissidents in Canada.
Earlier, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, and announced the withdrawal of its envoy from Canada.
On Monday, India criticised Canada, saying that Ottawa was investigating its ambassador and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India’s foreign ministry, in a statement, said it had received “a diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats are persons of interest” in the ongoing investigation.
Relations between India and Canada have deteriorated since Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau claimed last year to have evidence connecting Indian agents to the assassination of Nijjar on Canadian soil.
At a press conference, Trudeau has now said that the government has “clear and compelling evidence” that Indian agents have been involved in activities that endanger public safety. He said these activities include clandestine operations, coercive behaviour, and targeting South Asian Canadians, along with involvement in over a dozen violent incidents, including murder. “This is unacceptable,” Trudeau added, criticising India’s actions as criminal Read More…..
