India will recall its High Commissioner in Canada following the North American country’s inclusion of him and other Indian diplomats in an investigation where they are considered ‘persons of interest’, as stated by the external affairs ministry on Monday evening. India also removed six Canadian diplomats and requested their departure from India by or on October 19, 2024, Saturday.
On Monday, the Canadian ambassador was called in by the external affairs ministry after Canada sent diplomatic communication stating that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are under scrutiny in an investigation. Stewart Wheeler, who is the Canadian chargé d’affaires in India, is filling in for Cameron MacKay, the Canadian High Commissioner in India, who is currently unavailable in the country. Wheeler is one of the diplomats who have been requested to depart.
Other diplomats who were expelled include Patrick Hebert, Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka, and Paula Orjuela. India’s withdrawal of the High Commissioner and other diplomats signifies a notable deterioration in relations with Canada. The external affairs ministry told Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stephen Wheeler that they do not trust the current Canadian Government’s dedication to safeguard their security.
The ministry called for Cameron MacKay, the Canadian High Commissioner in India, but he is currently out of the country. It was emphasized that in an environment of radicalism and aggression, the safety of individuals was put at risk by the actions of the Trudeau Government. We lack confidence in the current Canadian Government’s dedication to guarantee their safety. Hence, the MEA’s statement announced that the Government of India will recall the High Commissioner and other specified diplomats and officials.
This evening, the Canadian Charge d’Affaires was called in by Secretary (East). The MEA statement stated that targeting the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada without any basis was not acceptable. The MEA officials also informed Wheeler that India may take additional actions in reaction to Trudeau Government’s backing of extremism, violence, and separatism against India. Canadian officials were clearly told that their behavior and actions do not support diplomatic solutions. They also alleged that Canada is ‘exerting undue pressure for terrorists’ without offering proof.
Canada has issued notices to six diplomats requesting they depart the country, as per reports from Canadian news media outlets. It was also mentioned that a notification was sent to the Indian ambassador to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma. The RCMP hosted a media briefing announcing that Indian diplomats were requested to depart.
Indian agents are connected to homicides in India through links. In a press conference, it was stated that Indian diplomats in Canada utilize their roles to carry out covert operations and gather intelligence for India. They claimed that India was given ‘evidence’ and reiterated that the RCMP will ‘not accept any harassment or violence towards Canadian citizens’. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also accused gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his syndicate of going after pro-Khalistani individuals in Canada.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme alleged that the South Asian-Canadian community is the focus. The RCMP did not give any specifics or mention any incidents involving Indian diplomats. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly later stated that the diplomats were expelled as the RCMP had collected plenty of solid and specific evidence.
The RCMP made the decision to reject these individuals after carefully considering ample, clear, and concrete evidence that identified six people as persons of interest in the Nijjar case. Joly continued to insist that the Indian government back the ongoing investigation in the Nijjar case. India-Canada relations were heavily affected after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of possibly being involved in the assassination of Nijjar in September last year. In June of last year, he was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia. New Delhi dismissed Trudeau’s accusations as ‘ridiculous’.