India-Canada Diplomatic Crisis Deepens: Trudeau Accuses India

The diplomatic ties between India and Canada have reached a breaking point following accusations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding India’s involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistani activist. This unprecedented escalation has seen both countries expelling diplomats and trading harsh speech, deepening the political crisis.

Trudeau’s Accusations: Targeting Indian Agents

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doubled down on allegations that India had a hand in Nijjar’s assassination in June 2023. According to Trudeau, Canada has credible evidence that Indian agents were involved, accusing the Indian government of “supporting criminal activity against Canadians” and engaging in “coercive behaviour” targeting South Asian Canadians. He also shared this information with the United States and other members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

Despite these serious charges, Trudeau admitted that the Indian government has refused to cooperate with Canadian authorities and has denied any involvement.

India’s Response: “Absurd and Motivated” Claims

In response, India has categorically rejected Trudeau’s accusations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.” The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also pointed out that no concrete evidence has been provided to substantiate these claims. New Delhi has accused the Canadian government of making these allegations for political gain, especially as Trudeau’s popularity wanes ahead of Canada’s 2025 general election.

India has also expelled Canadian diplomats, including acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler. The MEA emphasized that these expulsions were necessary to protect Indian interests.

Diplomatic Expulsions: A Second Round of Tensions

Amid the row, both nations engaged in tit-for-tat expulsions, with Canada expelling six Indian diplomats based on evidence provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). In retaliation, India sent home several Canadian diplomats, escalating the tensions.

Despite the diplomatic fallout, India has shown willingness to cooperate with investigations, although it has yet to see any evidence from the Canadian side.

A Fragile Relationship: What’s Next?

The political showdown between India and Canada shows no signs of cooling down. Both sides have significant interests at stake—India is a key partner for Canada in trade, while Canada hosts a large Sikh diaspora, some of whom have sympathies with the Khalistan movement. As international attention grows, the geopolitical implications of this standoff will continue to unfold.

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