On Monday, India expelled six Canadian diplomats as diplomatic tensions escalate between the two nations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the diplomats must leave the country by 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024. The expelled diplomats include Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, and First Secretaries Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka, and Paula Orjuela.
The decision follows India’s withdrawal of its High Commissioner and other diplomats after they were labeled as “persons of interest” by Ottawa in its investigation into the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In a statement, the MEA summoned Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, emphasizing that the “baseless targeting” of Indian officials is “completely unacceptable.”
The MEA highlighted that the actions of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government have endangered the safety of Indian diplomats in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, expressing a lack of faith in Canada’s commitment to their security.
Tensions between the two countries heightened last year when Trudeau informed the Canadian parliament about the “potential involvement” of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing. However, the Canadian government has yet to provide any evidence to substantiate these claims.
In response to Canada’s allegations linking Indian diplomats to the Nijjar case, the MEA strongly rejected what it termed “preposterous imputations,” attributing them to Trudeau’s political agenda. The MEA stated that despite repeated requests, the Canadian government has not shared any evidence since the allegations were made in September 2023. This, they argue, suggests a deliberate strategy to smear India for political gain under the guise of an investigation.
