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Canada on Monday ordered the removal of six Indian diplomats from abroad, including the high commissioner, after police accused them of engaging in murder, harassment and other “acts of violence” against Sikh separatists in the country. announced his expulsion.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a statement on Monday that the decision to expel the diplomats was “made out of an abundance of caution and that (Canadian police) have sufficient and clear evidence to identify the six individuals as persons of interest in the Niger incident.” The decision was made only after gathering concrete evidence.” case. ”
According to an announcement by India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this unusual step sharply escalated diplomatic tensions between the two countries, and India responded by immediately removing six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler. Banished.
Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had credible information linking the Indian government to the assassination of prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. , relations between the two countries hit rock bottom.
At a press conference on Monday, Trudeau accused the Indian government of making a “fundamental error in thinking that it can support criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil,” whether it be murder, extortion or other acts of violence. However, any behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Any democracy in a country upholds the rule of law. ”
That’s why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has chosen to “stood out today to disrupt a pattern of Indian diplomats using questionable and illegal means to gather information about Canadian citizens and then provide it to criminal organizations to perpetrate violence.” “It is,” he said. Acts ranging from extortion to murder against Canadians. ”
The Indian government called the charges “ridiculous” and announced it would withdraw the officials expelled by the Canadian government. “There is a deliberate strategy to malign India for political gain,” the statement added on Monday. “The accusations (against High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma) are ridiculous and deserve to be treated with contempt.”
Earlier Monday, the RCMP took the unusual step of releasing details of multiple investigations into the involvement of Indian government officials allegedly involved in “serious criminal activity” in Canada.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhem told reporters that the decision to release the investigation was made “because of the significant threat to public safety” and that efforts to address the matter in conjunction with the Indian government have been met with no satisfaction. He said the decision was taken after the decision did not yield any results.
Dweem said there had been “well over a dozen imminent and credible threats” to the lives of members of the South Asian community since September last year, particularly from “pro-Khalistan movements” (separation among Khalistan supporters). He said that there was a political movement. Sikh independence.
“Despite law enforcement actions, the damage continues and poses a serious threat to public safety,” Duhem said.
He added that the RCMP has found evidence of violent extremism affecting both Canada and India. Linking Indian government officials to murders and “acts of violence” in Canada. Organized crime targeting South Asian communities in Canada. and interference with democratic processes.
“The investigation found that Indian diplomats and consular officials based in Canada used their official positions to engage in covert activities, including gathering information for the Indian government either directly or through agents. It also includes other individuals who acted voluntarily or under duress,” he said.
“Information collected on behalf of the Indian government is then used to target members of the South Asian community,” Duhem added.
Earlier this year, Canada charged several Indian nationals with the murder of Canadian citizen Nijal. At the time, authorities were investigating whether they had ties to the Indian government.
Nijjar was shot and killed by masked men outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, last June. He was a prominent campaigner for an independent Sikh homeland outside India, known as Khalistan, which included parts of the Indian state of Punjab.
Last September, Prime Minister Trudeau said he had credible information linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder. The allegation infuriated India, which forcefully denied the claim as “irrational.” The diplomatic fallout resulted in the retaliatory expulsion of senior diplomats from both countries.
The Indian government said in a statement on Monday that the Canadian government has “not shared a shred of evidence” since Trudeau made those claims, and that recent claims were also made “without any facts.” said.
The RCMP announced Monday that it had presented “evidence” directly to Indian government officials. Global Affairs Canada said: “We continue to call on the Government of India to support the ongoing investigation into the Niger incident, as it is in the interests of both countries to get to the bottom of this case.” added.
The movement for Khalistan has long been outlawed in India, and painful memories of a deadly rebellion by some Sikh separatists still haunt many. But this has garnered some public sympathy among parts of the Sikh diaspora overseas, where activists protected by free speech laws can more openly call for India’s exit. It becomes like this.
Weeks after Trudeau’s 2023 announcement, the United States accuses Indian government officials of being involved in a plot to kill another Sikh separatist and American citizen, Gurpatwant Singh Panun, on U.S. territory. did. A U.S. indictment released in November accuses Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, of trying to kill Panun, who is wanted in India and is considered a terrorist by the government.
Canadian Foreign Minister Jolie said at a press conference Monday that the difference with the U.S. investigation is that “a Canadian died here in Canada” and “a sitting diplomat was involved in an incident of violence, and we need to remember that.” is very important and that is why we have taken the action.” we took. ”
— This story has been updated with additional information.
