India Canada News LIVE Updates: Hours after recalling the High Commissioner and other diplomates from Canada, India expelled six Canadian envoys. These diplomates have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19. The already frosty ties between India and Canada plunged further after the Justin Trudeau government attempted to link the Indian High Commissioner to a probe into Khalistani sympathiser Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.
The six Canadian diplomates suspended by India are – Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, 2. Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, First Secretary Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary Ross David Trites, First Secretary Adam James Chuipka and First Secretary Paula Orjuela.
What led to tensions between India And Canada: Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing led to a row between India and Canada, was a declared terrorist in India and wanted in several cases. Nijjar (45) was the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force and was a close associate of Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa Heranwala, who was involved in the killing of around 200 people in Punjab during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Nijjar was attacked by unidentified assailants on June 18, 2023, near the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Vancouver. As per Khalistan Extremism Monitor, he was a native of Harsighpur in the Jalandhar district of Punjab. Nijjar reportedly worked as a plumber before being elected unopposed to head the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, Canada.
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Canada PM Justin Trudeau Addresses India-Canada Row
Justin Trudeau, Canada's Prime Minister, conducted a press briefing Monday where he talked about the diplomatic row between India and Canada. In his address, Trudeau accused India of engaging "in clandestine information-gathering techniques, coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians and involvement in a dozen threating and violating acts including murder" on Canadian soil.
"This is unacceptable," Trudeau said. "While attempts have been made by the RCMP and national security officials to work with the Government of India and Indian law enforcement counterparts on this matter they have been repeatedly refused."
Canadian Journalist Daniel Bordman Says Khalistani Elements Are 'In Full Attack Mode'
Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman said in an interview with Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI) that the recent allegations from Canada about the Government of India's involvement in the death of the Khalistani leader. Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
"There are elements within the Khalistani apparatus, they are all over this…The Khalistani elements are in full attack mode," Bordman said. "They are taking this as a total victory and slamming India…Justin Trudeau is set to speak later today…But the vast majority of Canadians are incredibly fed up with this government."
"Don't believe the institutions. Don't see the media as credible. Doesn't see Justin Trudeau as credible. So many Canadians will just look at this, shrug their shoulders and probably even side with India…"
#WATCH | On Trudeau’s party recently suffering a humiliating loss in a special election & how dim his chances to secure another term, Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman says, “The Liberals are going to get smoked in the next election…The Conservatives are on pace for a… pic.twitter.com/jTKxduRl5u
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024
India Asks 6 Canadian Diplomats To Leave Country By Or Before 11:59 PM On October 19
India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats hours after it summoned Canada's Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and conveyed that the "baseless targeting" of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable. These diplomates have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19.
Press release: India expels Canadian diplomats ⬇️https://t.co/bVhI1gPsca
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 14, 2024
India Withdraws High Commissioner From Canada Amid Escalating Diplomatic Row
India has withdrawn its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other 'targeted' officials from Canada. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the actions of the Justin Trudeau's government are endangering the safety of the Indian High Commissioner and other officials.
Amid Escalating Diplomatic Row, Canada Reiterates Claims Of Alleged Indian Involvement In 'Criminal Activity'
Amid escalating diplomatic tensions, Canada, in a statement on Monday, reiterated its claims of the alleged involvement of agents of "the Government of India" in "serious criminal activity in Canada". The statement was issued after a bilateral clash turned into a full-scale diplomatic war between the two countries, with India recalling its High Commissioner from Ottawa and sending back six of Canadian envoys, including the Charge d'Affaires, Stewart Wheeler.
Who Was Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Khalistani Separatist At The Heart Of India-Canada Tensions
Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing led to a row between India and Canada, was a declared terrorist in India and wanted in several cases. Nijjar (45) was the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force. Nijjar was a close associate of Gurdeep Singh alias Deepa Heranwala, who was involved in the killing of around 200 people in Punjab during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nijjar was attacked by unidentified assailants on June 18, 2023, near the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Vancouver. As per Khalistan Extremism Monitor, he was a native of Harsighpur in the Jalandhar district of Punjab. Nijjar reportedly worked as a plumber before being elected unopposed to head the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, Canada.
India Summons Canadian Charge d'Affaires Over 'Politically Motivated' Diplomatic Note
India on Monday summoned the Canadian Charge d'affaires over the country's diplomatic note naming the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats as "persons of interest" in an ongoing probe. The MEA summoned Cd'A Stewart Wheeler and issued him a demarche over the note, which the MEA said was "politically motivated" and "agenda of the Trudeau Government".
Who Is Sanjay Kumar Verma? India's High Commissioner To Canada
India on Monday decided to withdraw its high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other "targeted" diplomats and officials from Canada. The development came after Canada's attempt to link them to a probe into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The decision was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) n shortly after summoning the Canadian charge d'affaires.