India-Canada’s Apparent Showdown Over Sikh Separatist’s Assassination

Both Countries Have Expelled Each Other’s Ambassadors

Newsreel Asia Insight #331
October 15, 2024

India and Canada have plunged into a deep diplomatic crisis, each expelling the other’s diplomats amid escalating tensions over the alleged assassination of a Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil last year.

On Oct. 14, 2024, both countries expelled each other’s ambassadors, marking a significant downturn in their diplomatic relations. India has expelled Ottawa’s acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler, his deputy and four first secretaries.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has accused India of involvement in the assassination of Nijjar, stated that prior to the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, Canadian authorities had confronted these officials with information about their alleged role in violent acts in Canada, including extortion and homicide. He claimed that the aim was to disrupt ongoing violence against Canadian citizens.

Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP), alleged that “Canadian Sikhs [are] stalked by fear” and called for sanctions against India.

In a statement, he expressed his backing for the decision to expel India’s diplomats. He also urged the Canadian government to impose diplomatic sanctions on India once again, prohibit the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Network in Canada, and ensure that individuals involved in organized criminal activities on Canadian territory face the most stringent penalties, as reported by The Hindu.

Singh also expressed extreme concern over the information released by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He mentioned that the New Democrats are highly concerned about the information released by the RCMP commissioner. He said that Canadians, especially those in the Sikh community, have been living in fear due to threats, harassment and various forms of violence—including extortion, violent acts and interference in elections—all allegedly carried out by Indian officials.

The Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the Canadian accusations as “preposterous imputations,” suggesting that the issue is tied to domestic political challenges faced by Trudeau’s government in Canada. 

“The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics,” read a statement issued by the Ministry on Oct. 14.

The press release mentioned Trudeau cabinet’s inclusion of individuals who have “openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India.” It also alleged that his government was dependent on a political party whose leader “openly espouses a separatist ideology vis-à-vis India,” referring to Jagmeet Singh’s NDP.

In November 2023, U.S. authorities made similar allegations. They stated they had thwarted an alleged Indian plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. According to the British newspaper Financial Times, U.S. President Joe Biden raised the issue with Prime Minister Modi during the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.