India has expelled six Canadian diplomats in response to Canada labelling six Indian diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in the murder case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force who was also one of India’s most wanted terrorists. Nijjar was killed in July 2023.
The expelled Canadian diplomats include the Acting High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and four First Secretary. They have been asked to exit the country by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, 19 October 2024.
Late last night, the Canadian Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi where he was informed that “the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable.”
The Secretary (East), MEA, conveyed that India has no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure safety of its diplomats and has therefore has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has alleged in a statement that the Government of India had “repeatedly refused” requests for co-operation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and national security officials in the investigation. He claimed that the RCMP has “clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in, and continue to engage in, activities that pose a significant threat to public safety.”
“We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government in threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil – a deeply unacceptable violation of Canada’s sovereignty and of international law,” Trudeau stated.
He urged the Government of India to co-operate on the investigation – “to put an end to its inaction and misleading rhetoric; to recognize the credibility and severity of the evidence and information we have shared so far; and to reiterate, in no uncertain terms, that its position on extrajudicial operations abroad will henceforth be unequivocally aligned with international law.”
Read more: India slams Trudeau, Canada for allegations against Indian diplomats
