Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed strong disapproval on Wednesday, stating that India made a “horrific mistake” by allegedly interfering in Canada’s safety and sovereignty.
The tension between Canada and India escalated dramatically on Monday when the Royal Canadian Police expelled India’s High Commissioner and five other diplomats. They were identified as persons of interest in the unsolved June 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In retaliation, India expelled six Canadian diplomats.
“We’re not trying to provoke India,” Trudeau said while testifying before the Foreign Interference Commission in Ottawa. “But the Indian government made a grave error in thinking they could interfere as they did. We need to take steps to protect Canadians.”
In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs accused Trudeau of politically motivated smearing and claimed his government has allowed violent extremists to threaten Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.
India has criticized Trudeau’s approach to the Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh homeland and has support among the Sikh diaspora in Canada.
Nijjar, a key figure in this movement, was shot and killed in his truck after leaving a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. At present, four Indian nationals in Canada face charges in connection with his murder.
Trudeau defended the decision to make public the allegations against Indian diplomats, saying it was aimed at enhancing public safety and curbing violent crime across Canada.
The Prime Minister claimed that Indian diplomats have been relaying information about Canadians to organized crime, resulting in violence within the country. He emphasized his intention to avoid escalating relations with India, revealing that he shared concerns with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a private meeting at the G20 Summit in September 2023.
In a counterstatement, India’s Ministry argued that since the allegations were made, Canada has failed to provide any evidence, despite multiple requests for information.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.