Canada, India each expel diplomats as tensions rise over 2023 murder

Canada and India have both expelled diplomats over accusations that Indian officials plotted and killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. — Image credit: Getty Images

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Canada and India have both expelled diplomats as tensions rise over accusations that Indian officials orchestrated violence against Sikh separatists in Canada. The fallout follows an investigation into the 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which Canadian authorities allege was part of a broader campaign by Indian agents targeting dissidents.

The Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats on Monday, Oct. 14, accusing them of involvement in a plot to track and threaten dissidents. Nijjar, a vocal advocate for the Khalistan movement that seeks an independent Sikh state in India’s Punjab region, was shot dead outside a British Columbia temple.

The alleged assassination attempt by an Indian official on U.S. soil may have been carried out without involvement of the Indian government. — Getty Images

India had labeled Nijjar a terrorist, and now Canadian authorities believe Indian agents were behind his killing. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police uncovered what they describe as a “criminal network” of Indian agents operating in Canada.

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In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, calling the allegations baseless and accusing Canada of harboring extremists.

This escalation follows months of strained relations, including the suspension of trade talks. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has raised the issue with allies, including the U.S. and U.K., calling for international cooperation to address the killing.

With both countries refusing to back down, the diplomatic row could have significant economic and geopolitical consequences.

Alex Delia (Producer) and Zachary Hill (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Assassination, Canada, India, Justin Trudeau, Murder, Narendra Modi

[Karah Rucker]

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CANADA AND INDIA PLUNGED TO A NEW LOW AFTER CANADIAN OFFICIALS EXPELLED SIX INDIAN DIPLOMATS, ACCUSING THEM OF ORCHESTRATING A CAMPAIGN OF THREATS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST SIKH SEPARATISTS IN CANADA.

THIS FOLLOWS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDER OF PROMINENT ACTIVIST HARDEEP SING NA-JAR… WHO WAS KILLED LAST YEAR OUTSIDE A SIKH TEMPLE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AFTER BEING LABELED AS A TERRORIST BY INDIA.

THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE UNCOVERED WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS A CRIMINAL NETWORK OF INDIAN AGENTS WORKING IN CANADA TO TRACK DISSIDENTS.

Mike Duheme, RCMP Commissioner:

“Investigations have revealed that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada leveraged their official position to engage in clandestine activities, such as collecting information for the government of India, either directly or through their agents and other individuals who acted voluntarily or through coercion. Evidence also shows that a wide variety of entities in Canada and abroad have been used by agents of the government of India to collect information.”

INDIA RESPONDED BY EXPELLING SIX CANADIAN DIPLOMATS, FURTHER ESCALATING THE STANDOFF. BOTH COUNTRIES ARE KEY TRADE PARTNERS, AND WITH THESE ACTIONS… THE STRAINED RELATIONS ARE NOW AT A BREAKING POINT. INDIA, WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY SUSPENDED TRADE TALKS WITH CANADA, ARGUES THAT CANADA HAS ALLOWED SIKH EXTREMISTS TO OPERATE FREELY WITHIN ITS BORDERS… POSING A THREAT TO INDIAN SECURITY.

AS OF NOW… BOTH NATIONS ARE STANDING FIRM, WITH NEITHER SIDE SHOWING SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN. THE ROW HAS DRAWN IN CANADA’S ALLIES, WITH PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU RAISING THE ISSUE WITH U-S AND UK OFFICIALS… URGING FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MURDER.

FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES AND STRAIGHT FACTS… DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.