Canada Warns Indian Diplomats Amid Assassination Allegations

AFP

Canada: Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has warned that remaining Indian diplomats in the country are “clearly on notice” not to jeopardize Canadian lives, as tensions rise over allegations of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

The diplomatic standoff intensified earlier this week when Canada expelled India’s high commissioner and five other diplomats, accusing them of links to a campaign of violence and intimidation against Sikh separatists in Canada.

Joly emphasized the seriousness of the situation on Friday, stating, “We’ve never seen this level of transnational repression on Canadian soil. We’ve witnessed it in Europe, with Russia’s actions in Germany and the UK, and we had to stand firm.”

When asked about the possibility of further expulsions, Joly responded, “They are clearly on notice. Six diplomats have already been expelled, including the high commissioner, with others primarily based in Toronto and Vancouver. We will not tolerate any diplomats violating the Vienna Convention.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have alleged that Indian diplomats in Canada were involved in activities that contributed to the killing of Nijjar, who was gunned down last year in British Columbia.

According to the RCMP, Indian diplomats shared information about Sikh activists with Indian authorities, who then passed it on to organized crime groups. These groups have been linked to extortion, shootings, and the assassination of pro-Khalistan activists, including Nijjar.

India has strongly denied these accusations, calling them “absurd,” and responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner in New Delhi.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), dismissed the claims and criticized Canada for allegedly sheltering individuals wanted on terrorism-related charges in India.

Jaiswal pointed out that India had submitted 26 extradition requests to Canada, some pending for over a decade, and accused Canada of failing to act on several provisional arrest requests.

The diplomatic dispute has further strained already tense relations, particularly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in September 2023, which suggested possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s murder.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist, and his killing outside a gurdwara in Surrey remains a flashpoint in the worsening relationship.