New Delhi: The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada in the context of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case has assumed a very serious turn. On Monday, the Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and he was reprimanded for trying to link the Indian High Commissioner in Canada and the High Commission officials to the Nijjar murder case.

What is the new dispute between India and Canada?

On Monday, Canada named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a 'person of interest' in the investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This means that the police believe he may be involved in a crime. However, the police cannot arrest him, but he can be kept under investigation.

What action did India take against Canada?

India decided to call back its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma from Canada and all other officials whom the Canadian government is trying to prosecute. Late in the evening, India expelled six diplomats including the Canadian High Commissioner. They have been asked to leave India by October 19.

What did India say on Canada's allegations?

The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement calling the allegations of the Justin Trudeau government of Canada absurd and said that it no longer trusts the Trudeau government, it can do anything. It also warned that it reserves the right to take further action against the Trudeau government which supports extremism, violence and separatism against India.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that India had received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday. It said that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are stakeholders in the case related to the Nijjar murder case. Let us tell you that Nijjar was shot dead by unknown assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023.

How did the India-Canada dispute start?

The India-Canada dispute started in the year 2023 when Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Canada on 18 June. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, declared a terrorist by India, was the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force. Canada claimed India's involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On 18 September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament that agents of the Indian government had killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar. After this, India called all the allegations of Canada baseless. It is worth noting that in this dispute going on for a year, Canada has not yet provided a single evidence to India.

PM Trudeau surrounded by political challenges

Keep in mind that Trudeau is surrounded by big internal political challenges. Just last month, some of his allies withdrew support from the government. This included the NDP, which has a significant influence. Although he was somehow successful in proving majority in the confidence motion, his political position remains unstable. Along with this, there is also a crisis in the economic and housing sectors. In this regard, the Trudeau government wants to be seen as supporting the interests of the fundamentalists. The way the Indian High Commission has been involved in the Nijjar case is a part of this.