The diplomatic row between Canada and India has escalated on Monday after the two countries expelled each other’s top diplomats.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced on Monday the expulsion of the Indian diplomats, saying: “We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil.”
On the other hand, the Indian Foreign Ministry said it had “decided to withdraw the high commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials” because it had no faith in the Canadian government’s ability to ensure their security, according to the Guardian.
Furthermore, the Indian Foreign Ministry expelled Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other diplomats, telling them to leave before the end of Saturday.
The Ministry also added in a statement that Canada has not shared any evidence with the Indian government despite its repeated requests, calling the accusations “part of a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains.”
“India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau government’s support for extremism, violence and separatism against India,” the Ministry said.
The dispute between Ottawa and Delhi started when the Indian-Canadian activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in the city of Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023.
After the incident, both countries traded accusations and their relations have become strained.
Following the killing of Nijjar and the Canadian government’s allegations, the two countries engaged in tit-for-tat diplomat expulsions, taking relations to a new low point.
In May 2024, tensions sparked again when Canadian police announced the arrest of three Indian nationals, accusing them of involvement in Nijjar’s killing.
The police said it was investigating “if there are any ties to the government of India.” Delhi rejected the allegations back then, saying that Canada had a “political compulsion” to accuse India, according to the AP.
Both Canada and India have maintained robust defense and trade ties.