The diplomatic dispute over the homicide of a Sikh chief between New Delhi and Ottawa grew worse on Tuesday when India expelled a Canadian diplomat in retaliation, sparking a worldwide outcry.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Narendra Modi administration of being concerned within the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June, relations between the 2 nations reached a brand new low.
On account of his help for a Sikh homeland within the type of an unbiased state of Khalistan, Nijjar, who was fatally shot exterior a Sikh temple in June, had been labelled a “terrorist” by India in July 2020.
The Canadian excessive commissioner, or ambassador, in New Delhi had been summoned and advised of the expulsion resolution, India’s overseas ministry stated in a press release.
“The choice displays the federal government of India’s rising concern on the interference of Canadian diplomats in our inside issues and their involvement in anti-India actions,” the ministry added.
“The involved diplomat has been requested to depart India inside the subsequent 5 days.”
#WATCH | Canadian Excessive Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay leaves from the MEA headquarters at South Block, New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/zFAaTFfeAP
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
Previous to the incident, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, mentioned it together with his closest allies.
In accordance with a senior authorities supply cited by CBC Information, Prime Minister Trudeau has knowledgeable the leaders of France’s Emmanuel Macron, the UK’s Rishi Sunak, and the USA’ Joe Biden concerning the developments within the assassination of Khalistan chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India’s prime intelligence agent in Canada was additionally expelled. The Analysis and Evaluation Wing (RAW) was led by Pavan Kumar Rai, who was primarily based out of the Indian Excessive Fee in Canada.
The Canadian PM revealed in a speech at an emergency assembly of the meeting the surprising info concerning the Indian function within the incident.
In accordance with Prime Minister Trudeau, Canada was “actively pursuing credible allegations” that Indian authorities brokers have been concerned within the homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
On the fringes of the G20 summit final week in New Delhi, Trudeau claimed to have introduced up the homicide immediately with Modi and urged his administration to work with Canada to discover a resolution.
In response, Modi expressed to Trudeau his grave concern concerning latest Sikh protests in Canada calling for an unbiased state.
With about 770,000 individuals declaring Sikhism as their faith within the 2021 census, Canada has the biggest inhabitants of Sikhs exterior of the Indian state of Punjab.