Canada’s decision to expel New Delhi’s top envoy and five other diplomats has been front-page news in India, with some analysts wondering how other countries will react.
The RCMP on Monday warned the public about a spate of crimes the unit has linked to Indian government officials, including murder, extortion and extortion.
The RCMP and other Canadian officials submitted evidence to India early last weekend, but New Delhi says it has refused to cooperate with the police investigation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said that’s why Canada declared six diplomats persona non grata, one of the harshest penalties imposed under the Vienna Convention.
India has ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave the country, saying it has not been presented with any evidence of government involvement in crimes committed in Canada.
The diplomatic spat has made front page headlines in the Times of India and the Indian Express.
Bina Najibullah, vice president of research at the Asia Pacific Foundation, said she is watching to see how her Canadian peers react to the “unprecedented and unusual” news.
That could mean a diplomatic move behind the scenes, or even a public show of support for Canada.
“Everyone will be watching the U.S. response,” she said.
“At this point, for Canada to get some kind of cooperation from India and hold India accountable for what happened, it needs to feel some pressure on India, and it needs to see some reason for India to cooperate. There is.”
Najibullah said Jolie’s accusations of criminal involvement by active diplomats were notable, and said violence linked to the Indian government has only increased since Canada made its concerns public last year.
RCMP say they have obtained evidence linking Indian government officials in Canada to violent crimes including blackmail, extortion and the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The revelations are expected to further deteriorate relations between India and Canada following mutual expulsions of diplomats.
In September 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canadian intelligence agencies have “credible information” regarding a “potential link” between the Indian government and the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. announced that it was investigating the information.
Najibullah said Ottawa sent a senior official to present evidence to the Indian side over the weekend and made its case “very clearly and aggressively.”
“Canada did what it thought was necessary,” she said. “We are in uncharted territory. It has implications not only for diplomatic relations, but also for Canada’s public safety and national security.”
Najibullah also said it was unusual for diplomats to be expelled on criminal charges. “We’re not dealing with a rogue state here. We’re dealing with a very important international player here,” she said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is expected to speak to the media later this morning about the development. The party is calling for sanctions and for Canada to ban Hindu groups that Sikhs and Muslims in Canada accuse of spreading hatred.
