Written By Lisa Murimi
Tensions between India and Canada have escalated, with both countries expelling top diplomats following allegations of Indian involvement in the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the expulsions after police pursued credible claims that Indian agents were linked to Nijjar’s killing.
Trudeau stated the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) uncovered evidence connecting Indian operatives to criminal activities, including homicides and extortion targeting pro-Khalistan supporters in Canada.
The Khalistan movement seeks a separate Sikh homeland in India.
India has strongly denied the accusations, calling them “preposterous” and politically motivated, aimed at appeasing Canada’s Sikh community.
In retaliation, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, and accused Canada of failing to protect its diplomats.
Nijjar, a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement, was shot outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
His murder has become a flashpoint in already strained relations, with India branding him a terrorist, while his supporters reject the claims.
As tensions rise, visa services have been suspended, and the future of India-Canada relations remains uncertain.
Both nations continue to defend their actions, deepening the diplomatic rift.
