India Expels 6 Canadian Diplomats Over Allegations

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

India has expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its envoy. This action comes after Canada labeled the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in the investigation of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder. The diplomatic row has been escalating since last year.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The diplomatic row between India and Canada escalated late Monday night. India announced the recall of its High Commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and expelled six Canadian diplomats from the country. This decision followed Canada naming Indian officials, including the High Commissioner, as ‘persons of interest’ in the investigation into Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder.

Among the expelled diplomats are Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, and several First Secretaries. They have been instructed to leave India by October 19, Saturday.

In its statement, the Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the actions of the Trudeau Government endanger the safety of diplomats. “We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security,” the statement said.

Earlier, Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs. He was informed that the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other officials in Canada was entirely unacceptable.

Wheeler stated that Canada has provided credible evidence of ties between agents of the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. “Now, it is time for India to look into all those allegations,” he remarked.

India responded harshly to Canada’s allegations, calling them “preposterous imputations.” The Ministry highlighted that the Canadian government did not provide any evidence of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing despite repeated requests, accusing Trudeau of playing vote bank politics.

Diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have deteriorated since September last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian government agents’ involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. New Delhi has categorically rejected these charges as “motivated and absurd.”