India-Canada row timeline: What led to India, Canada expelling high diplomats?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a information convention on the investigative efforts associated to violent legal exercise occurring in Canada with connections to India, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on October 14, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP

Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officers in relation to an investigation of the homicide of a Sikh separatist chief in British Columbia final 12 months, the International Ministry mentioned on Monday (October 14, 2024).

India earlier mentioned it had ordered the expulsion of six high Canadian diplomats, together with the performing Excessive Commissioner, and mentioned it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s assertion that it had expelled the envoy.

Relations between the 2 nations have been fraught since final 12 months, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned he had proof linking Indian brokers to the assassination of a Sikh separatist chief in his nation.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police mentioned they’d vital info on broad legal exercise orchestrated by brokers of the federal government of India and used to focus on members of the South Asian group in Canada.

Right here’s a timeline of the occasions have transpired:

June 18, 2023: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, is shot useless exterior a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a big Sikh inhabitants. He was a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of an impartial Sikh homeland carved out of India.

September 1, 2023: A Canadian commerce official says Canada paused talks on a proposed commerce treaty with India, an surprising transfer that took place three months after each nations mentioned they deliberate to seal an preliminary pact in 2023.

September 10, 2023: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveys sturdy considerations about Sikh separatist protests in Canada to Prime Minister Trudeau on the sidelines of a G20 summit in New Delhi.

September 18, 2023: Trudeau tells parliament that Canada was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian authorities brokers to Nijjar’s killing.

September 19, 2023: India dismisses Trudeau’s assertion as “absurd.” Every nation expels a diplomat in tit-for-tat strikes, with Canada throwing out India’s high intelligence officer within the nation whereas India expelled his Canadian counterpart.

September 22, 2023:India suspends issuing new visas for Canadians and asks Ottawa to scale back its diplomatic presence in India. India resumes issuing visas two months later.

October 19, 2023: Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India amid a dispute over Nijjar’s homicide, International Minister Melanie Joly says.

October 29, 2023: Tens of hundreds of Sikhs prove in Surrey, British Columbia, on the identical gurdwara, a Sikh home of worship, the place Nijjar was killed to vote in an unofficial referendum on the creation of an impartial Sikh state.

November 21, 2023: India’s Nationwide Investigation Company recordsdata a case in opposition to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist, stating that he warned Air India passengers in video messages shared on social media that their lives have been at risk.

November 22, 2023: A senior Biden administration official says U.S. authorities thwarted a plot to kill Pannun in the US and issued a warning to India over considerations the New Delhi authorities was concerned.

February 5, 2024: India’s Excessive Commissioner says in an interview with Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper that India is not going to present info to Canadian investigators over Nijjar’s homicide till Canada shares proof.

April 30, 2024: The White Home describes as a critical matter a Washington Put up report that an officer in India’s intelligence service was instantly concerned in each Nijjar’s killing and the foiled plot to kill Pannun within the U.S.

India’s Exterior Affairs Ministry mentioned the report contained “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations.”

Could 3, 2024: Canadian police cost three folks linked to Nijjar’s homicide, a supply instantly aware of the matter says.

August 27, 2024: Canadian police warn Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an aide to Nijjar, of an elevated risk to his life, a outstanding Sikh separatist says.

October 14, 2024: Canada expels six Indian diplomats together with the Excessive Commissioner, linking them to the homicide of a Sikh separatist chief and alleging a broader effort to focus on Indian dissidents in Canada. India retaliates by ordering the expulsion of six high-ranking Canadian diplomats together with the performing Excessive Commissioner and mentioned it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s assertion of expulsion. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says “We won’t ever tolerate the involvement of a international authorities threatening and killing Canadian residents on Canadian soil.”