Canada Expels Indian High Commissioner, Five Other Diplomats

Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner. A senior government official with knowledge of the situation says the expulsions come as Canada has evidence of ongoing violent criminal activity linked to the Indian government.

India had said earlier it was withdrawing its diplomats, but the Canadian official says India’s announcement came after Canada had declared high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and five other diplomats persona non grata.

Canada’s decision to expel the diplomats comes amid an ongoing investigation into the 2023 death of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

India’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it had also summoned the top Canadian diplomat in New Delhi and told him that “the baseless targeting” of the Indian high commissioner, or ambassador, and other diplomats and officials in Canada “was completely unacceptable.”

“We have no faith in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensure their security,” it said.

The ministry said that India will withdraw its high commissioner and other diplomats and officials.

In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations that the Indian government had links to the assassination in Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the accusation as absurd. In response to the allegations, India told Canada last year to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country.