India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat on Tuesday in response to the “absurd and motivated” claims that New Delhi had a part to play in the extra-judicial slaying of a Sikh activist in Canada. Canadian intelligence agencies have been actively pursuing credible links between Indian government agents and the murder of a Canadian Sikh community leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural center in British Columbia. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared this information with the parliament in Ottawa on Monday, leading to a deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
In a statement, India’s Foreign Ministry condemned the unsubstantiated allegations as an attempt to divert attention from the presence of Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have found shelter in Canada. The ministry expressed concern about the long-standing inaction of the Canadian Government in dealing with these elements, stating that it poses a threat to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In response to Ottawa’s expulsion of a top Indian diplomat, India retaliated by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat. This tit-for-tat move further escalated tensions between the two countries.
While Canadian leaders stopped short of explicitly accusing India, they stressed the need for Indian authorities to fully cooperate in the investigations. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly emphasized that Canada “will not tolerate any form of foreign interference” and declared deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government. Australia and the United Kingdom also expressed their deep concerns about Canada’s allegations and assured close contact with their Canadian partners over the matter.
Sikh activism in Canada has been a contentious issue in bilateral ties between Canada and India. The Sikh diaspora in Canada accounts for about 2% of its population, and their activism has complicated Canada’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with India. Prior to the leaders’ summit of the Group of 20 nations, Ottawa had paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Canada considers peaceful Sikh activism as a part of free expression, India perceives it as an endorsement of Sikh separatism, which it views as an infringement on its domestic affairs.
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had previously expressed his concerns over the glorification of violence and vengeance in online video footage of a parade float in the Canadian city of Brampton, depicting the 1984 assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Indian foreign ministry stated that the sympathy expressed by Canadian political figures for such elements is deeply concerning. It also criticized the space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities, including murders, human trafficking, and organized crime.
Prime Minister Trudeau claimed that he personally and directly brought up the issue with Prime Minister Modi during their meeting at the Group of 20 nations leaders’ summit in New Delhi. Trudeau stressed that any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is deemed an unacceptable violation of Canada’s sovereignty. It remains to be seen how the ongoing investigations will progress and whether it will influence the future diplomatic relationship between India and Canada.
The strained relationship between India and Canada due to allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist has taken a toll on diplomatic ties. Both countries have expressed their concerns, with India denouncing the unsubstantiated claims and pointing out the presence of Khalistani extremists in Canada. Meanwhile, Canada urges India to fully cooperate in the investigations, emphasizing its commitment to not tolerate any foreign interference. The complications arising from Sikh activism in Canada have further complicated efforts to strengthen economic ties between the two nations. As the investigations unfold, it is crucial for both countries to engage in constructive dialogue and find a way forward to restore trust and cooperation.
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