India, Canada Expel Diplomats Over Murder Accusations

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Facts

  • India and Canada have expelled each other's six top diplomats over allegations that Indian officials were linked to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.[1][2]
  • Nijjar, who became a Canadian citizen in 2015 and sought an independent homeland — known as Khalistan — for Sikhs in India, was killed in June 2023 at a Sikh temple in Vancouver.[3]
  • Canadian police accused the Indian government of involvement in 'homicides and violent acts' and targeting supporters of the pro-Khalistan movement.[4]
  • On Monday, Canada expelled the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who the Canadian government has deemed a 'person of interest' in the murder investigation.[5][1]
  • India stated that it had 'no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment' to protecting its diplomats, adding that 'the baseless targeting' of the Indian high commissioner and officials in Canada 'was completely unacceptable.'[6][4]
  • This comes after Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said last week that Canadian-Indian relations were 'tense' and that the threat of more killings like Nijjar's remains.[1]

Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]Associated Press, [3]France 24, [4]Dw.Com, [5]South China Morning Post and [6]The Times of India.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Washington Post. Canadian authorities are simply following the clear and compelling evidence of a murder investigation. Not only were these diplomats involved in the murder of Nijjar, but Indian officials, stretching all the way to the top of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, are linked to multiple murders on Canadian soil. The least Canada can do for the victims is expel these perpetrators from the country.
  • Narrative B, as provided by OpIndia. This is a politically motivated act. Trudeau and his government have yet to present any of the so-called 'evidence' linking the Indian government to these murders. More importantly, Trudeau's allegations are solely based on his desire to shore up support from Sikh voters whom he relies on to stay in power. Trudeau's cabinet is full of pro-Sikh separatists, which clearly shows his bias in this matter.