India, Canada expel each other's diplomats as row over Nijjar killing escalates

India on Monday announced expelling six Canadian diplomats, hours after recalling the Indian high commissioner and some other officials from Canada.

The Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 pm on October 19, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The diplomats who have been expelled are Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner, Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner, Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary and lan Ross David Trites, First Secretary.

The other two diplomats are Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary, and Paula Orjuela, First Secretary.

The Government of India has decided to expel 6 Canadian diplomats. They are to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024. MEA issues a press statement -

1. Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner

2. Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner

3.… pic.twitter.com/PPO3aIk8pU

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024

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Earlier today, the MEA said that it was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government’s actions endangered their safety. “We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,: it added.

Meanwhile, the Canadian media on Monday quoted an unnamed senior official as saying that Ottawa has expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner.

The Globe and Mail daily quoted the Canadian official as saying that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have evidence that the six diplomats were involved in the alleged plot to murder Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.

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Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.

Addressing a press conference later, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme warned of widespread violence, homicides and a public security threat linked to “agents” of the Indian government.

Hours earlier, India announced withdrawing its high commissioner and other “targeted diplomats and officials” from Canada after strongly dismissing Ottawa’s allegations linking the envoy to an investigation into the killing of Nijjar.

The official, who, according to the local media, was not authorised to discuss the matter on national security grounds, said that the Canadian government presented the evidence to India last week and the Indian government staunchly denied the allegations.

Since the killing of Nijjar, a dozen people of Indian descent have been warned there was credible evidence that they could be targets of Indian agents, the official said.

Duheme said the RCMP has charged “a significant number” of people with direct involvement in homicides, extortions and other criminal acts of violence over the past few years and is aware of more than a dozen threats to members of the South Asian community and the pro-Khalistan movement, the Toronto Star newspaper reported.

In a statement issued on Monday, the RCMP said a multidisciplinary team “learned a significant amount of information about the breadth and depth of criminal activity orchestrated by agents of the Government of India, and consequential threats to the safety and security of Canadians and individuals living in Canada”.

“Despite law enforcement action, the harm has continued, posing a serious threat to our public safety,” it added.

The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

New Delhi had rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”