India and Canada have expelled their top envoys and several other diplomats as tensions escalate over the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year. The diplomatic fallout comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing, a charge India has strongly denied.
Trudeau stated that credible allegations, brought forward by Canadian police, pointed to Indian agents’ involvement in Nijjar’s murder, which has strained relations between the two countries. Canadian police have also accused Indian agents of being involved in other illegal activities, such as extortion and targeting supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland in India.
India dismissed the allegations as “preposterous” and claimed that Trudeau’s accusations were politically motivated, aimed at gaining favour with Canada’s significant Sikh community. India has demanded the withdrawal of dozens of Canadian diplomats and suspended visa services, signalling the deepening rift between the two nations.
On Monday, Canada’s acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler was summoned by India’s external affairs ministry to explain Canada’s actions. Shortly afterward, India announced that six Canadian diplomats, including Wheeler, had been asked to leave the country by 19 October. India, in turn, withdrew its top envoy and other diplomats, citing concerns for their safety and a lack of trust in the Canadian government’s ability to protect them.
The dispute follows the murder of Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan advocate, who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Canadian police described the attack as targeted, and Trudeau later told Canada’s parliament that the allegations of Indian involvement were based on intelligence gathered by Canadian agencies. India had previously labelled Nijjar a terrorist, though his supporters rejected the accusations.
As the diplomatic row continues, both countries face deteriorating ties, with Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly describing the relationship with India as “tense” and “very difficult.” The situation remains critical, with Canadian officials expressing concerns over potential further threats to pro-Khalistan activists.