In the midst of rising tensions between India and Canada, New Delhi has formally requested that Ottawa expel 41 diplomats by October 10, as reported by the Financial Times.
The strained relationship between the two nations stems from Canadian suspicions regarding the involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen, in June. India has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as baseless.
This diplomatic standoff has garnered attention from the Biden administration, which has urged the Indian government to cooperate with Canada’s investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
According to The Financial Times report, New Delhi has issued a warning that it may revoke the diplomatic immunity of the diplomats in question if they remain beyond the specified deadline.
Currently, Canada has 62 diplomats stationed in India, and India has called for the reduction of 41 diplomats, as per the newspaper’s report.
As of now, neither the Indian nor the Canadian foreign ministries have provided immediate responses to this matter.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has previously voiced concerns about a “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada, partially attributed to the presence of Sikh separatist groups that have been a source of frustration for New Delhi.
The allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding Indian involvement in the murder have further fueled this diplomatic crisis. In response, India has suspended its visa services in Canada.
Furthermore, the global Sikh community has organized protests since Trudeau’s claims, demanding the expulsion of Indian diplomats from London and Ottawa.
In London, a significant gathering of Sikhs convened at the Indian High Commission to express solidarity with Canada and to protest against what they perceive as India’s interference in foreign countries regarding pro-Khalistan activism. Protesters prominently displayed posters of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
These events have led to disruptions at Indian diplomatic missions worldwide, as Sikh activists protest the presence of individuals they allege to be Indian spies monitoring Sikhs and disseminating false information.
The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the subsequent claims of Indian involvement have considerably strained relations between India and Canada, resulting in India’s request for the expulsion of a substantial number of Canadian diplomats and sparking unrest and protests on a global scale.
