National/International desk
14 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
India has recalled its High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats from Canada, after escalating tensions over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijhar. Canada had requested to interrogate the diplomats, which India rejected, calling the request “ridiculous” and politically motivated. The Trudeau government had named Verma and other Indian diplomats as “Persons of Interest” in their investigation. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed this, accusing Canada of using vote bank politics. India has also asked six Canadian diplomats to leave by October 19.
The MEA summoned Canada’s Charge d’Affaires and expressed concerns about the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada, stating that the actions of the Trudeau government could endanger them. The ministry emphasized that targeting Indian officials would not be tolerated and highlighted a lack of confidence in the Canadian government’s ability to ensure their security.
India views the allegations as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political agenda ahead of elections, focusing on his domestic vote bank. With Canada already facing tensions over Nijhar’s death, the diplomatic relations between the two countries have reached a new low.