India and Canada have expelled their prime envoys together with different diplomats as Justin Trudeau’s authorities accused Indian brokers of involvement in “homicides, extortion and violent acts” on Canadian soil.
Canadian police mentioned the felony exercise had significantly focused supporters of the pro-Khalistan motion which seeks a separate homeland for Sikhs in India.
Officers mentioned a dozen brokers had been concerned, however didn’t verify in the event that they have been instantly linked to the June 2023 homicide of Sikh separatist chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Delhi rejected the allegations as “preposterous”.
Relations between Delhi and Ottawa have been strained since Trudeau mentioned Canada had credible proof linking Indian brokers to Nijjar’s homicide.
India has accused Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s massive Sikh group for political acquire.
The row led to a deterioration in ties, with India asking Canada to withdraw dozens of its diplomatic workers and suspending visa services.
On Monday, a livid assertion from India’s international ministry mentioned Canada’s allegations have been influenced by Sikh separatist campaigners and warned of motion.
Later within the day, it introduced six Canadian diplomats, together with appearing Excessive Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, had been requested to depart India by 19 October.
Mr Wheeler was additionally summoned by India’s exterior affairs ministry to clarify Canada’s transfer.
Chatting with reporters after the assembly, Mr Wheeler mentioned Canada had given India the proof it had demanded, it now wanted to analyze the allegations.
“It is in the pursuits of each our nations and the peoples of our nations to get to the backside of this,” he mentioned.
Delhi has defended its Excessive Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, referring to his “distinguished profession spanning 36 years”.
“The aspersions forged on him by the federal government of Canada are ludicrous and need to be handled with contempt,” it mentioned.
The Indian international ministry additionally mentioned it was “withdrawing” its prime envoy and different diplomats.
“We’ve got no religion within the present Canadian authorities’s dedication to make sure their safety. Due to this fact, the federal government of India has determined to withdraw the Excessive Commissioner and different focused diplomats and officers.”
On Monday, Canadian police mentioned that they had taken the bizarre step of publicly disclosing details about ongoing investigation “on account of vital risk to public security in our nation”.
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme advised reporters at a information convention on Monday that there had been “over a dozen credible and imminent threats to life” which he mentioned “particularly” focussed on members of the pro-Khalistan motion.
He added that the threats have been sufficiently severe to warrant to RCMP’s public intervention.
“We reached some extent the place we felt it was crucial to confront the federal government of India.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot and killed by two masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia.
He had been a vocal supporter of the Khalistan motion, which calls for a separate Sikh homeland, and publicly campaigned for it.
India has prior to now described him as a terrorist who led a militant separatist group – accusations his supporters referred to as unfounded.
Canadian police referred to as his killing a “focused assault”.
In September 2023, Trudeau had advised Canada’s parliament that allegations of Indian involvement within the killing have been primarily based on Canadian intelligence.
He referred to as the act a violation of Canada’s sovereignty.
India has vehemently denied all allegations and maintained that Canada has offered no proof to assist its claims.
Frosty ties between the 2 nations appeared to have thawed barely after India resumed processing visas in October 2023.
However final week, Canadian Overseas Minister Mélanie Joly referred to as the nation’s relations with India “tense” and “very troublesome”.
She additionally mentioned there remained a risk of extra killings like Nijjar’s on Canadian soil.