Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has issued a stern warning to remaining Indian diplomats in Canada, stating they are “clearly on notice” following the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma. The expulsion comes in the wake of serious allegations linking the Indian government to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan leader, on Canadian soil.
During a press conference, Joly emphasized that Canada will not tolerate any diplomats who violate the Vienna Convention or jeopardize the safety of Canadians. “Six of them have been expelled, including the high commissioner in Ottawa. Others were mainly from Toronto and Vancouver,” she confirmed. The move follows revelations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) regarding India’s alleged involvement in “violent criminal activity” targeting pro-Khalistan separatists within Canada.
Sources indicate that the RCMP has gathered substantial evidence suggesting that the expelled diplomats were implicated in the plot to murder Nijjar in June 2023. Nijjar was a close associate of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder and General Counsel of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), who has survived multiple assassination attempts linked to Indian plots. The RCMP has also alleged that Indian diplomats and consular officials engaged in clandestine activities, including intelligence gathering for the Indian government.
In response to these allegations, Joly stated, “There was definitely a threat… Canadians were being intimidated, victims of extortion, or even received death threats because agents and diplomats from India were linked to these criminal actions.”
India has categorically denied these allegations, with officials rejecting claims of collusion with criminals to target Sikh separatists. However, Joly reiterated Canada’s commitment to protect its citizens, warning that any diplomat contravening Canadian law would face consequences.
Former Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay characterized the situation as a “fiasco” for the Indian government, emphasizing that the notion that Indian agents could orchestrate violent crimes across Canada and the U.S. without repercussions is misguided. He noted, “Some very serious red lines have been crossed, and it’s for that reason that Canada has taken the strong diplomatic and law enforcement action that it has up to now.”
Joly’s comments underscore a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, as Canadian authorities remain vigilant about the conduct of Indian diplomats on Canadian soil. The situation continues to unfold, with the possibility of further expulsions looming if violations of Canadian law persist.
