India mentioned it had withdrawn its envoy to Canada together with different diplomats after Canada accused Indian authorities brokers of participating in “killings, extortion and acts of violence” on Canadian soil.
Canadian police mentioned the crime was significantly focusing on supporters of the Khalistan motion, which seeks an impartial homeland for India’s Sikhs.
They mentioned greater than a dozen brokers had been concerned however didn’t verify whether or not they had been immediately linked to the homicide of Sikh separatist chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.
Delhi denies the accusations as “ridiculous” and says they’re a part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political agenda.
Relations between Delhi and Ottawa have been tense since Trudeau mentioned Canada had credible proof linking Indian brokers to Nijar’s homicide.
This quarrel resulted in relationship deterioratesIndia requested Canada to withdraw dozens of diplomats, Suspension of visa services.
On Monday, India’s international ministry issued an indignant assertion, calling Canada’s accusations a part of Trudeau’s “political agenda” and warning of motion, with out specifying what it will be.
“India now reserves the appropriate to take additional steps in response to the Canadian authorities’s newest efforts to manufacture allegations in opposition to Indian diplomats,” the assertion learn.
Delhi additionally defended its excessive commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma for his “distinguished profession of 36 years”.
“The Canadian authorities’s slander in opposition to him is ridiculous and must be handled with contempt,” the assertion mentioned.
There was no instant response from Canada to Delhi’s assertion. India’s international ministry summoned Stuart Wheeler, the nation’s deputy chief of mission in Delhi, to elucidate Canada’s transfer.
“He was knowledgeable that baseless assaults in opposition to the Indian Excessive Commissioner and different Canadian diplomats and officers had been fully unacceptable,” a international ministry assertion mentioned.
“We’ve got no confidence within the dedication of the present Canadian authorities to make sure its safety. Due to this fact, the Indian authorities has determined to withdraw the Excessive Commissioner and different focused diplomats and officers.”
Hardeep Singh Nijar Shot to death by two masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple he led in Surrey, B.C..
He has been an outspoken supporter of the Khalistani motion, which calls for a separate Sikh homeland, and has publicly campaigned for it.
India has prior to now described him as a terrorist who leads a militant separatist group, however his supporters have referred to as the accusations baseless.
Canadian police referred to as his killing a “focused assault.”
In September 2023, Trudeau advised the Canadian Parliament that allegations of Indian involvement within the killings had been based mostly on Canadian intelligence.
He mentioned the transfer violated Canada’s sovereignty.
India strongly denies all accusations and insists Canada has offered no proof to help its claims.
After the India incident, the icy relationship between the 2 international locations appears to have thawed barely Recovery processing Visa in October 2023.
However final week, Canadian Overseas Minister Melanie Joly referred to as the nation’s relationship with India “strained” and “very troublesome.”
She additionally mentioned there may be nonetheless a risk of extra killings like Nijjar’s on Canadian soil.
