Canada and India have every expelled six diplomats in tit-for-tat strikes in an escalating row over the killing of a Sikh separatist chief.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in September final yr there have been credible allegations the Indian authorities was linked to the assassination in his nation of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.
India rejected the accusation as “absurd” and on the time informed Canada to take away 41 of its 62 diplomats within the nation, with relations being tense between the 2 nations ever since.
Now Canada is expelling six Indian diplomats, together with the excessive commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, after police uncovered proof of ongoing violent felony exercise linked to India’s authorities, in accordance with a senior Canadian authorities official.
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Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June final yr. Pic: Sikh PA
In the meantime, India has stated it ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats – and withdrew Mr Verma – after he and others have been named as “persons of interest” in an investigation, nevertheless it didn’t go into element concerning the probe.
The Indian international ministry stated in an announcement that “it received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country”.
It added: “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.”
India’s international ministry later stated it had requested the six Canadian diplomats to depart by this Saturday.
It added that “India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau government’s support for extremism, violence and separatism against India”.
The ministry additionally stated that, in protest, it had summoned the Canadian cost d’affaires Stewart Wheeler, who was informed to depart India.
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Stewart Wheeler speaks to reporters. Pic: AP
Afterwards, Mr Wheeler reiterated Mr Trudeau’s accusation, saying: “Canada has provided credible, irrefutable evidence of ties between agents of the government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.
“Now, it’s time for India to reside as much as what it stated it might do and look into these allegations.”
India has repeatedly stated Canada has not shared any proof to again its declare concerning the killing of Mr Nijjar, who had been designated a terrorist by India.
The Canadian citizen, 45, was shot lifeless in a carpark outdoors a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June 2023.
He had been a distinguished supporter of the Khalistani separatist motion, which needs to ascertain an unbiased homeland for Sikhs in India, the place they’re a minority.
In Could this yr, Canadian police stated a fourth Indian nationwide had been arrested and charged together with his homicide.
Mr Nijjar was organising an unofficial referendum in India for an unbiased Sikh nation on the time of this demise.
Round 1.8 million folks, or greater than 5% of the Canadian inhabitants, are of Indian heritage.
