India Expels Six Canadian Diplomats Amid Escalating Diplomatic Tensions

India has announced the expulsion of six senior Canadian diplomats, including the Acting High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the diplomats must leave the country by October 19 or risk losing their diplomatic immunity. This decision follows Canada’s investigation into Indian ambassador and other diplomats as "persons of interest" related to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a request that India deemed unacceptable.

Canada also sought the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, intensifying the ongoing diplomatic strife between the two nations. The Canadian diplomats who have been ordered to leave include Mr. Stewart Ross Wheeler, the Acting High Commissioner, along with several First Secretaries: Mr. Patrick Hebert, Ms. Marie Catherine Joly, Mr. Ian Ross David Trites, Mr. Adam James Chuipka, and Ms. Paula Orjuela. They are required to depart India by 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024.

India has summoned Canada's Charge d'Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, to express its condemnation of the "baseless targeting" of its diplomats. The Indian government emphasized that such actions were "completely unacceptable." New Delhi stated that it lacks confidence in the current Canadian government’s ability to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats. In response to Canada’s allegations concerning the Indian envoy, Sanjay Kumar Verma, India labeled these accusations as "ludicrous" and deserving of "contempt."

The Ministry of External Affairs articulated concerns regarding the hostile environment, stating that the actions of Prime Minister Trudeau's government jeopardized diplomatic safety. It noted that India reserves the right to take further measures in light of the “Trudeau Government’s support for extremism, violence, and separatism against India.”

Relations between India and Canada have been severely strained since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims in September last year, suggesting the possible involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, who had immigrated to Canada in 1997, was an advocate for the creation of a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, and had been wanted by Indian authorities for terrorism-related charges. The Indian government strongly rejected Trudeau's accusations, describing them as "absurd," marking a significant downturn in already frosty bilateral ties.​