Tensions between India and Canada have escalated further as six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, are set to return to India by Saturday amidst growing threats from pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. The Indian diplomatic staff in Canada will be reduced to nine, compared to 15 Canadian diplomats remaining in India after six Canadian diplomats were expelled by the Indian government. Previously, India had 12 diplomats stationed in Ottawa, while Canada had 62 diplomats in Delhi before relations worsened.
The diplomatic fallout is rooted in the assassination of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has suggested Indian involvement in the murder, a claim that India has vehemently denied. However, Trudeau’s government has yet to provide substantial evidence, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has not filed any formal charges in the case. Despite the lack of legal action, Trudeau has maintained his stance, with many observers believing that his political survival relies heavily on the support of pro-Khalistani groups within Canada, particularly the New Democratic Party led by Jagmeet Singh.
Trudeau is expected to testify before Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission on October 16, as part of an inquiry into foreign meddling, in which he may further accuse India of involvement in Nijjar’s murder. However, critics argue that the inquiry is biased and aimed solely at tarnishing India’s reputation, particularly as no counter-evidence has been allowed in the proceedings. The growing alignment of the Trudeau government with pro-Khalistani factions, and its outreach to the Anglo-Saxon West via the Five Eyes Alliance, has further strained relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, concerns over the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada are rising, with reports of a half-million-dollar bounty placed on High Commissioner Verma by Khalistani groups, following violent demonstrations and threats made in Vancouver. The deteriorating diplomatic relations are compounded by suspicions that Canadian officials may have engaged with political elements in India, allegedly attempting to radicalize the Sikh community and promote anti-India narratives during the farmers’ protests.
This standoff signals a significant low point in India-Canada relations, with both countries poised for further confrontation as political and security implications continue to unfold.
