In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, Canada recently expelled six Indian diplomats amid ongoing fallout from the 2023 assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Canadian Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, has issued a stern warning to India’s remaining diplomats, indicating they are “clearly on notice” to avoid any actions that could endanger Canadian lives, especially in light of revelations linking India’s envoy in Canada to Nijjar’s assassination.
On Monday, India’s high commissioner, along with five other diplomats, was expelled. Mélanie Joly drew a parallel to Russia, asserting that Canada’s national police force has associated Indian diplomats with serious offenses, including homicides, death threats, and intimidation within Canadian borders.
“In our history, we have never encountered this level of transnational repression,” Joly stated during a press conference in Montreal. “Such actions cannot be permitted on Canadian soil. We’ve witnessed similar tactics elsewhere in Europe, and it’s crucial for us to stand firm against these violations.”
When asked if further expulsions of Indian diplomats were possible, Joly replied, “They are clearly on notice. We already expelled six of them, including the high commissioner in Ottawa. We will not condone any diplomatic behaviors that violate the Vienna convention.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police recently highlighted allegations that Indian officials had been specifically targeting Sikh separatists residing in Canada. These allegations suggest that Indian diplomats were sharing sensitive information about these activists with Indian authorities, who then relayed it to organized crime groups in India, putting Canadian citizens at risk of violence, including drive-by shootings and even murder.
In response, India has dismissed Canada’s accusations as “absurd” and announced the expulsion of Canada’s acting high commissioner, along with five other diplomats.
This isn’t the first instance of international accusations against Indian officials regarding plots to assassinate dissidents abroad. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed charges against an Indian government worker linked to a thwarted assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Vikash Yadav, who allegedly orchestrated the plot from India, faces murder-for-hire charges connected to a scheme believed to precede a series of politically motivated killings in both the U.S. and Canada.
U.S. authorities have indicated that the targeted killing of the American Sikh was planned to occur shortly after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was tragically shot outside a cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. Prosecutors allege the intent was to eliminate at least four individuals in Canada and the U.S. by June 29, 2023, with more attacks anticipated thereafter.
Nijjar’s murder has strained India-Canada relations for over a year, yet despite Canada asserting that it had shared evidence backing its claims with Indian officials, India has consistently denied having received any documentation.
The Indian government has criticized Canada for what it perceives as a lenient stance towards supporters of the banned Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland and enjoys backing from the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.
Trudeau revealed that during a G-20 summit in India last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his desire for Canada to take action against critics of the Indian government. Trudeau assured Modi that while Canada would address issues related to terrorism and hate incitement, advocating for separatism—though not aligned with government policy—is not illegal in Canada.
Nijjar, who was 45 at the time of his death, owned a plumbing business and was a prominent figure in the ongoing movement for Sikh independence. Four Indian nationals residing in Canada have been charged with his murder and are currently awaiting trial.
