The Indian government has asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats from the Asian country. The request, published by the Financial Times newspaper, calls for Canadian employees to leave their positions by October 10 at the latest. Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have deteriorated since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian intelligence agencies of involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in Surrey, British Columbia. Narendra Modi’s executive branch flatly denies these allegations and is reportedly threatening to revoke the diplomatic immunity of these 41 people if they remain in the country after October 10.
New Delhi has 21 diplomats on Canadian soil and therefore wants Ottawa to have a matching number. The Indian Foreign Ministry had already pointed out that these figures would be adjusted last September. Prime Minister Trudeau declined on Tuesday to confirm the information published by the British newspaper. He explained that his government “does not seek escalation” but that the diplomatic crisis must be taken “with the utmost seriousness.” Trudeau did not say whether Canada would take a similar action and reiterated the importance of maintaining diplomatic relations with India. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly emphasized that communications with New Delhi remain “private”. “We believe diplomatic discussions are better when they remain private,” he said.
On September 18, during a parliamentary session, the Canadian Prime Minister condemned the Indian government’s likely involvement in the assassination of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil, stressing that it could be an “unacceptable violation of the country’s sovereignty.” Trudeau stated that Canadian security authorities have been investigating the links between this crime and the work of agents from New Delhi for several weeks.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in the city of Surrey on June 18. Singh Nijjar, with a Canadian passport, was a well-known leader in his community and advocated for the independence of Punjab. Canada has expelled an Indian diplomat following these allegations. The Narendra Modi government responded a day later by taking the same action towards a Canadian diplomat and issuing a warning to its citizens traveling to Canada due to “the increase in anti-India activities and hate crimes and political connotations in various parts of Canada.” On September 21, New Delhi announced the suspension of processing visa applications from Canadian citizens. Ottawa has pointed out that much of the allegations against India are based on information collected by intelligence agencies of other Western countries, such as the so-called Five Eyes group, an alliance between Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States Canada.
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