Canada’s overseas minister Mélanie Joly on Friday issued a warning to India’s remaining diplomats within the nation, cautioning them in opposition to endangering Canadian lives. This follows the expulsion of India’s excessive commissioner and 5 different diplomats earlier this week after allegations emerged linking Indian officers to the assassination of a Sikh activist.
Joly in contrast India’s actions to these of Russia, stating that Canada’s nationwide police drive has linked Indian diplomats to homicides, dying threats, and intimidation on Canadian soil. “We’ve by no means seen that in our historical past. That stage of transnational repression can’t occur on Canadian soil. We’ve seen it elsewhere in Europe. Russia has accomplished that in Germany and the UK and we wanted to face agency on this problem,” she mentioned throughout a speech in Montreal.
Requested if extra Indian diplomats might face expulsion, Joly responded, “They’re clearly on discover. Six of them have been expelled together with the excessive commissioner in Ottawa. Others had been primarily from Toronto and Vancouver and clearly we received’t tolerate any diplomats which are in contravention of the Vienna conference.”
The diplomatic fallout started after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police revealed allegations that Indian diplomats had been sharing details about Sikh separatists in Canada with their authorities. Authorities claimed this info was handed to organised crime teams in India, resulting in assaults on Canadian residents, together with drive-by shootings and extortion.
India, nevertheless, has dismissed the allegations as baseless and retaliated by expelling Canada’s performing excessive commissioner and 5 different diplomats.
The tensions between India and Canada stem from the June 18, 2023, killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh activist, exterior a cultural heart in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian prosecutors allege Indian officers had been concerned within the assault, however India has denied receiving any proof supporting these claims.
The US has additionally leveled accusations in opposition to India, charging an Indian authorities worker, Vikash Yadav, with a murder-for-hire plot to kill a Sikh chief in New York Metropolis. US prosecutors declare the plot was linked to Nijjar’s killing and supposed to set off additional politically motivated assassinations in North America.
Regardless of the continued allegations, India has criticised Canada for being lenient in the direction of Khalistan supporters, a banned separatist motion in India that has vital backing amongst Canada’s Sikh diaspora. Prime Minister Trudeau defended Canada’s stance, asserting that free speech protects such advocacy, although he careworn that his authorities would handle any considerations associated to terrorism or incitement of violence.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police continues to research what they describe as an intensifying marketing campaign by Indian brokers in opposition to Canadian nationals. 4 Indian nationals have been charged in Nijjar’s homicide and await trial.
