Diplomatic Strain: India orders expulsion of Canadian diplomats

India has issued a stern directive to Canada, insisting that 41 of its diplomats must be repatriated by October 10, as reported by The Financial Times. The strained relationship between the two countries stems from Canadian suspicions regarding the involvement of Indian government agents in the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader and Canadian citizen, in British Columbia. India had previously labeled Nijjar a “terrorist” due to his advocacy for Khalistan, an independent Sikh state, while dismissing the murder allegations as baseless.

Reports, citing sources familiar with the matter, revealed that India has threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of the diplomats instructed to leave if they fail to comply by the given deadline. Currently, Canada maintains 62 diplomats in India, and India has demanded a reduction by 41, according to the newspaper.

Diplomatic Silence

Both the Canadian foreign ministry and the Indian government have chosen to remain silent regarding recent diplomatic tensions. New Delhi has previously emphasized the importance of achieving “parity” in the number and grade of diplomats stationed in each other’s countries.

One of the primary issues stems from the substantial difference in the number of diplomats. Canada has a significantly larger diplomatic presence at its high commission in New Delhi compared to India’s representation in Ottawa. This discrepancy arises due to the necessity of maintaining a substantial consular section to cater to the relatives of approximately 1.3 million Canadians of Indian heritage.

Indian Foreign Minister’s comments

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has highlighted a concerning “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada. This situation is exacerbated by the presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada, home to approximately 770,000 Sikhs, the largest population outside Punjab in northern India.

The Indian government has long expressed dissatisfaction with certain members of the Sikh community voicing support for Khalistan. Interestingly, Canada’s House of Commons comprises 15 Sikh members, constituting over 4% of the seats, despite comprising only about 2% of the Canadian population.

Also read: India suspends visa services in Canada as rift widens over killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Adding to the complexities, New Delhi swiftly responded to the situation by imposing a visa ban on Canadians just a day after a significant statement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 18. The ongoing silence from both nations raises questions about the future trajectory of their diplomatic relations.

“Declaring more Canadian diplomats personae non gratae wouldn’t help the situation and would make reducing the emotions associated with this disagreement more difficult,” said Peter Boehm, chair of the Canadian Senate committee on foreign affairs and international trade.

Sikh Separatist Influence

The Khalistan movement, seeking a separate Sikh homeland, led to a tragic loss of life in the 1980s and 1990s. However, it currently lacks substantial support in Punjab. In 2020, India accused Nijjar of making “hateful speeches” and engaging in “seditionary and insurrectionary imputations,” designating him as being “involved in terrorism.” This backdrop of historical tensions and political complexities has contributed to the ongoing diplomatic discord between India and Canada.

International Concerns

Recent reports also revealed that President Joe Biden raised concerns about the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar during the G20 summit, discussing the matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged India to cooperate fully with the ongoing Canadian police investigation into the incident.

David Cohen, the US ambassador to Ottawa, disclosed that Canada received intelligence on the murder through the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which includes the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. This revelation adds weight to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stance on the issue. Experts like Boehm believe Trudeau is unlikely to back down, emphasizing India’s perception of Canada as a vulnerable target due to its minority government and impending elections.

I do not expect the prime minister to back down,” said Boehm, who also warned that India saw Canada as “an easy mark”. “India knows our capacity to retaliate is limited, that we have a minority government, and is aware of the consequent politics at play,” said Boehm. “And, of course, India has an election on the horizon.