New Delhi, India – In a significant escalation of tensions between India and Canada, the Indian government has expelled six senior Canadian diplomats, including Canada’s Acting High Commissioner, Stuart Wheeler. The move follows diplomatic strains linked to the murder of a Sikh activist in Canada earlier this year.
Relations between the two countries soured after the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist, in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar's killing sparked diplomatic friction, with Canadian authorities recently naming India’s High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, as a person of interest in their investigation.
India has rejected all allegations regarding Verma’s involvement, emphasizing that Verma is one of its most experienced diplomats, with 36 years of service, including previous postings as Ambassador to Japan and Sudan.
In response to the controversy, India summoned Canada’s Acting High Commissioner Stuart Wheeler to discuss the matter. Following the meeting, the Indian government announced the expulsion of Wheeler along with five other senior Canadian diplomats. The diplomats have been ordered to leave India immediately, marking a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
This diplomatic fallout highlights the growing tensions between the two countries, as both sides grapple with the political and legal implications surrounding Nijjar's assassination.
English (United States) ·