Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a information convention on investigative efforts associated to violent prison exercise occurring in Canada with connections to India, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on October 14, 2024. | Photograph credit score: AP
Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officers in reference to an investigation into the assassination of a Sikh separatist chief in British Columbia final yr, the international ministry stated on Monday (Oct 14, 2024).
India earlier stated it had ordered the expulsion of six senior Canadian diplomats, together with the appearing Excessive Commissioner, and stated it had recalled its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s assertion that it had expelled the envoy.
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Relations between the 2 international locations have been strained since final yr, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated he had proof linking Indian brokers to the homicide of a Sikh separatist chief in his nation.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police stated it had vital details about intensive prison exercise orchestrated by Indian authorities brokers and used towards members of the South Asian neighborhood in Canada.
Here’s a timeline of the occasions which have occurred:
June 18, 2023: Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, is shot to loss of life outdoors a Sikh temple in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a big Sikh inhabitants. He was a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of an unbiased Sikh homeland carved out of India.
September 1, 2023: A Canadian commerce official says Canada has halted talks on a proposed commerce take care of India, an sudden transfer that happened three months after each international locations stated they deliberate to seal an preliminary pact in 2023.
September 10, 2023: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveys his grave concern over the 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 in search of credible allegations” linking Indian authorities brokers to Nijjar’s homicide.
September 19, 2023: India calls Trudeau’s assertion “absurd.” Every nation expels a diplomat in tit-for-tat measures: Canada expelled India’s prime intelligence officer within the nation, whereas India expelled his Canadian counterpart.
September 22, 2023:India suspends issuance of recent 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 recalled 41 diplomats from India amid a row over Nijjar’s homicide, says Overseas Minister Melanie Joly.
October 29, 2023: Tens of 1000’s of Sikhs flock to Surrey, British Columbia, to the identical gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship, the place Nijjar was murdered to vote in an unofficial referendum on creating an unbiased Sikh state.
November 21, 2023: India’s Nationwide Investigation Company has filed a case towards Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist, claiming 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 america and issued a warning to India over considerations that the federal government in New Delhi was concerned.
See: Nijjar Homicide – Pannun Case: How ought to India deal with the diplomatic fallout?
February 5, 2024: The Excessive Commissioner of India says in an interview with the Ministry of Canada Globe and mail newspaper that India won’t present info to Canadian investigators about Nijjar’s homicide till Canada shares proof.
April 30, 2024: The White Home describes a problem as critical Washington Publish report that an Indian intelligence service officer was straight concerned in each Nijjar’s homicide and the foiled plot to kill Pannun within the US.
India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated the report contained “unwarranted and baseless allegations.”
Could 3, 2024: Canadian police are charging three folks in reference to Nijjar’s homicide, based on a supply straight aware of the matter.
August 27, 2024: Canadian police are warning Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Nijjar aide, of a rising risk to his life, says a outstanding Sikh separatist.
October 14, 2024: Canada expels six Indian diplomats, together with the Excessive Commissioner, linking them to the assassination 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 senior Canadian diplomats, together with the appearing Excessive Commissioner, and stated it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada’s expulsion assertion. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says, “We’ll by no means tolerate the involvement of a international authorities that threatens and kills Canadian residents on Canadian soil.”
Revealed – October 15, 2024 12:33 pm IST