Chandigarh, 15 October, 2024: India and Canada’s diplomatic ties have hit a new low this week, following fresh accusations by Canadian authorities with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alleging that Indian government “agents” are working with organized crime groups, including the Bishnoi gang, to target members of Canada’s South Asian community, especially those with pro-Khalistan leanings.
New Delhi later expelled six Canadian diplomats including Charge d’Affaires Wheelers and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert. The other diplomats expelled are Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka and Paula Orjuela (all first secretaries).
Earlier, New Delhi said the allegations against Indian diplomats were “concocted” and “preposterous imputations”. India also slammed Justin Trudeau over “naked interference” in the country’s internal affairs.
India’s government later announced it was withdrawing more staff from Canada, citing security concerns for its diplomats.
In response to the accusations, India issued a sharp denial, calling the claims “preposterous” and accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of pushing a political agenda ahead of upcoming elections.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also criticized Canada for allegedly supporting extremist elements.
“India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau government’s support for extremism, violence, and separatism against India,” the MEA said.
Former Indian diplomat KP Fabian said India’s relations with Canada won’t normalise until Justin Trudeau is the prime minister of the country.
“We can hope and pray that both governments give this a deep thought and work towards de-escalating this situation, but I am not fully sure that this may be the case. The signals we have been receiving thus far foreshadow an escalation, and unfortunately, as long as Justin Trudeau remains Prime Minister in Canada, we do not see things getting better,” Fabian said.
India’s decision to recall High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats came shortly after the Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheelers was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Wheelers was bluntly told that baseless “targeting” of the Indian envoy and other officials was “completely unacceptable”.
Trudeau, however, stood by his government’s stance. In a press conference following the RCMP’s claims, he accused India of making a “fundamental error” in believing it could “engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians.”
Trudeau added that Canada had shared relevant intelligence with its allies, especially the United States, through the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network. This latest chapter in the diplomatic dispute follows earlier allegations made by Trudeau in September 2023, when he accused India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau alleged disappointment with India’s reluctance to engage in dialogue over the issue. “We have approached India to resolve this, but they have chosen not to cooperate,” he said. “Instead, they’ve denied our requests and attacked the integrity of our government and institutions.”
According to Trudeau, Canadian law enforcement has gathered “clear and compelling evidence” that links Indian officials to a number of violent incidents, including extortion and murder, in Canada.
He said the RCMP had made multiple attempts to work with Indian authorities, but these efforts had been met with refusal. India, on the other hand, firmly denies any involvement, stating that Canada is harboring extremists who are promoting separatism and violence against India.
The Indian government has consistently maintained that it will not tolerate efforts to link its diplomats to criminal activities.
“India naturally opposes any move giving political space to extremism and advocacy of violence,” the MEA said.
The broader context of this dispute centers on pro-Khalistan movements. India has long accused Canada of providing a platform for separatist activities, while Canada insists it is upholding free speech rights.
The tension peaked in June 2023, when the Canadian Parliament observed a moment of silence on the anniversary of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death, which India strongly condemned as support for separatism.
Trudeau said that his government’s priority is the safety of Canadian citizens. “We don’t want Canadians to be subjected to violence in their homes and communities,” he said.
“Unfortunately, India’s actions have raised serious concerns about public safety here in Canada,” he said further.
The Canadian Prime Minister also mentioned that his government took the extraordinary step of sharing evidence with Indian officials, identifying six Indian agents as “persons of interest” in criminal activities. However, he claimed that India refused to cooperate with Canadian authorities. India’s stance on the matter has remained firm, with New Delhi setting a deadline for Canadian diplomats to leave by October 19.
The MEA criticized Trudeau’s handling of the situation, saying his approach is politically motivated. “His hostility toward India has been evident for years,” the MEA remarked, referencing Trudeau’s controversial 2018 visit to India and his comments during the Indian farmer protests in 2020.
The ongoing diplomatic tension is having far-reaching consequences, with both sides unwilling to back down.
While Canada has sought support from its allies, including the United States, the U.S. government has so far remained silent on the issue. For now, it remains unclear how or when the strained relations between India and Canada might improve, as both nations continue to dig in on their respective positions.
