Canada accuses Indian govt agents of 'illegal activities' after India expels 6 diplomats

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner, Mike Duheme, on Monday (Oct 14) made serious accusations against Indian government agents, claiming they have been involved in illegal activities within Canada.

“It is not our normal process to publicly disclose information about ongoing investigations, in an effort to preserve their integrity. However, we feel it is necessary to do so at this time due to the significant threat to public safety in our country,” stated an official release.

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“Over the past few years, and more recently, law enforcement agencies in Canada, including theRCMP, have successfully investigated and charged a significant number of individuals for their direct involvement in homicides, extortions and other criminal acts of violence,” the statement continued.

"In addition, there has been well over a dozen credible and imminent threats to life which have led to the conduct of Duty to Warn by law enforcement with members of the South Asian community, and specifically members of the pro-Khalistan movement," it added.

Amid the escalating tensions, India withdrew its High Commissioner, Sanjay Verma, along with other key officials from Canada. This move followed Canada’s allegations linking Indian officials to the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, Canada’s Charge d'Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, was summoned by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

Later, the Indian government ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave the country, as per a notice issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. Among the six was Stewart Wheeler, who was instructed to leave India by Saturday, October 19, before midnight.

Tensions between India and Canada have worsened since Canada’s diplomatic communication to India, where Indian diplomats were labelled "persons of interest" in an ongoing investigation. India responded strongly, accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of harboring hostility towards India and making preposterous allegations for political gains.

Trudeau had previously accused the Indian government of being involved in the killing of Canadian citizen and Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India had classified as a terrorist. Nijjar was shot dead in June outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada. India rejected Trudeau's accusations as "absurd and motivated," repeatedly pointing out that Canada had not provided any evidence to support its claims.

(With inputs from agencies)