India and Canada have expelled their top envoys and other diplomats following allegations of Indian agents involvement in "homicides, extortion, and violent acts" on Canadian soil. Canadian police said the criminal activity targeted supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate homeland for Sikhs in India. Officials said a dozen agents had been involved, but did not confirm if they were directly linked to the June 2023 murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Delhi rejected the allegations as "preposterous".
Relations between Delhi and Ottawa have been strained since Trudeau claimed Canada had credible evidence linking Indian agents to Nijjar's murder. India has accused Trudeau of pandering to Canada's large Sikh community for political gain. The row led to a deterioration in ties, with India asking Canada to withdraw dozens of its diplomatic staff and suspend visa services.
India's foreign ministry said Canada's allegations were influenced by Sikh separatist campaigners and warned of action. Later, it announced six Canadian diplomats, including acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, had been asked to leave India by 19 October. Wheeler said Canada had given India the evidence it had demanded and now needed to investigate the allegations. Delhi has defended its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, referring to his "distinguished career spanning 36 years."
Canadian police have taken the unusual step of publicly disclosing information about ongoing investigation due to significant threat to public safety in their country. RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme said there had been "over a dozen credible and imminent threats to life" which he said "specifically" focused on members of the pro-Khalistan movement.
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