New Delhi, October 14, India has expelled six diplomats including Canada’s Charge d’Affaires in New Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs gave this information late on Monday night. Earlier, in view of Ottawa’s new allegations in the case of murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a terrorist declared by India, in Canada last year, India had decided to recall its High Commissioner in Canada and some other diplomats “for security reasons”.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that the six diplomats who have been expelled include Canada’s Charge d’Affaires Stewart Ross Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, besides four First Secretaries Mary Catherine Jolly, Ian Ross David, Adam James Chuipka and Paula Orjuela.
All these six Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave India on or before 11.59 pm on October 19.
The Canadian government had last year alleged that Indian agents were behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a terrorist declared by India, in Canada. It had informed the Indian government on Sunday that the names of the Indian High Commissioner and diplomats in Canada were emerging in the investigation into the case.
After this, India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi and strongly objected, rejecting Canada’s allegations outright. India told Stewart Wheeler that the “baseless targeting” of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada is not acceptable to India.
The statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said, “It was reported that this move of the Trudeau government had posed a threat to their security amid an atmosphere of extremism and violence. We do not trust the commitment of the current Canadian government to ensure their safety. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to recall the High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials who are being targeted.” The ministry has also conveyed to Wheeler that “India reserves the right to take further measures in the future in response to the Trudeau government’s support for extremism, violence and separatism against India”.
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “We received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday stating that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India rejects these absurd allegations and considers them to be part of the Trudeau government’s political agenda, which is focused on vote bank politics.”
“Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Government of Canada has not shared evidence with the Government of India despite multiple requests from our side. Once again, claims have been made without any facts. This leaves no doubt that this is a deliberate strategy to malign India for political gains under the pretext of investigation,” the statement said.
