India expelled six diplomats, including the High Commissioner in charge of Canada

New Delhi| India has expelled six diplomats, including Canada’s High Commissioner-in-Charge in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs shared this information. Earlier, India had decided to recall its High Commissioner to Canada and some other diplomats “for security reasons” in the wake of Ottawa’s new allegations in the murder of Indian-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year.

The Foreign Ministry said that the six diplomats who have been expelled include Canada’s High Commissioner in charge Stewart Ross Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, besides four First Secretaries Mary Catherine Jolley, Ian Ross David, Adam James Chuipka and Paula Orjuela. All six of these Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave India by or before 11.59 pm on October 19.

The Canadian government had last year alleged that Indian agents were behind the murder of Indian-proclaimed terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. He had informed the Indian government on Sunday that the names of the Indian High Commissioner and diplomats in Canada were coming to light in the investigation of this case.

After this, India summoned the High Commissioner in-charge of Canada in New Delhi and expressed strong objection, rejecting Canada’s allegations outright. India told Stewart Wheeler that “baseless targeting” of the Indian High Commissioner to Canada and other diplomats and officials was not acceptable to India.

“It was reported that this move by the Trudeau government posed a threat to their security amid an atmosphere of extremism and violence”, a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said. We do not believe in the commitment of the current Government of Canada to ensure their safety. Therefore, the Indian government has decided to recall the High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials being targeted.

The ministry has also told Wheeler that “India reserves the right to take further measures in the future in response to the Trudeau government’s support of extremism, violence and separatism against India”.

“We received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday stating that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘person of interest’ in a case related to an investigation in that country”, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement issued on Monday afternoon. The Indian government rejects these absurd allegations and considers them part of the political agenda of the Trudeau government, which focuses on vote bank politics.

“Since, Prime Minister Trudeau made some allegations in September 2023, the Government of Canada did not share evidence with the Government of India despite several requests from our side”, the statement said. Once again claims have been made without any facts. It leaves no doubt that this is a deliberate strategy to defame India for political gain under the pretext of investigation.