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India and Canada announce expulsion of each other's diplomats
India and Canada have announced plans to expel six diplomats from each other.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has decided to expel six Canadian diplomats, including Acting Ambassador Stuart Ross Wheeler and his deputy. The diplomats have been ordered to leave India by 11:59 p.m. on October 19. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also announced the recall of Ambassador to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats due to security concerns, TASS reports.
The move followed a statement from Canada accusing the ambassador of involvement in a plot to kill Nijjar. India rejected the allegations as baseless and accused Canada of supporting extremism.
Canada has since confirmed its decision to expel six Indian diplomats for illegal actions against Canadian citizens. India was reportedly "asked to waive its diplomatic and consular immunity" to allow Canada to question the individuals, but India reportedly refused to do so.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed that Canada will not tolerate threats and violence on its territory.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Canada would defend its interests despite its reluctance to confront India.
According to the Vzglyad newspaper, the diplomatic row between India and Canada began in 2023. Prime Minister Trudeau said that Indian authorities are suspected of involvement in the murder of a Sikh leader in British Columbia. Indian authorities deny any involvement in the murder.