Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, due to their alleged involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and targeting of Indian dissidents in Canada. In retaliation, India also expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its envoy from Canada. This move has led to a major deterioration of relations between the two countries, with accusations of espionage and criminal activities being exchanged.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed to have evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of the Sikh leader on Canadian soil. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also accused the government of India of targeting Indian dissidents, engaging in criminal activities, and interfering in democratic processes in Canada.
India denied the accusations, calling Trudeau’s claims part of a political agenda. The Indian government decided to expel the Canadian diplomats, citing concerns about their safety. Canada requested India to remove the diplomatic immunity of the diplomats for investigation, but India did not cooperate.
This diplomatic crisis has strained relations between Canada and India, with experts predicting no return to normalcy in the foreseeable future. The accusations of Indian involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatist leaders in Canada and the U.S. have further complicated the relationship, as both countries seek to counter China’s influence globally. The U.S. has also indicted an Indian national for an attempted assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in New York, further deepening the diplomatic challenges faced by India.
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