VANCOUVER, Canada — Tensions between India and Canada have intensified following the assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader in British Columbia, an event that has led to diplomatic expulsions and accusations from both sides. India’s high commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who was recently expelled along with five other diplomats, has vehemently denied any involvement in the murder.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent figure in the Sikh community, was tragically killed on June 18, 2023, outside a cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia. The Canadian government has since identified Verma as a person of interest in the case, though he rejects these claims as baseless and politically driven. In a recent television interview, the high commissioner stated, “There is absolutely no evidence linking me or any other expelled diplomats to this grievous act.”
The Canadian authorities have charged four Indian nationals residing in Canada with Nijjar’s murder, and investigations are ongoing. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, supported by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), has alleged that Indian diplomats in Canada had been engaging with Sikh separatists inappropriately, sharing sensitive information with their government. This intelligence, Trudeau claims, was subsequently relayed to organized crime groups in India, orchestrating violent attacks against the Sikh activists.
In defense, Verma disavowed the allegations that the Indian government has been targeting Sikh separatists and insisted that all actions by Indian officials in Canada were transparent. While condemning the murder of Nijjar, Verma criticized the comparisons made by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly between India and Russia. He demanded substantive evidence to support Canada’s claims, stating that they appeared to be politically motivated rather than based on factual evidence.
The diplomatic fallout has led to reciprocal expulsions by India, which declared Canada’s acting high commissioner and five other Canadian diplomats as persona non grata. Verma emphasized the lack of evidence provided to Indian authorities, while the RCMP reported difficulties in sharing crucial evidence with Indian officials, citing procedural issues such as visa approvals.
Furthermore, this controversial murder coincides with accusations from the United States. The U.S. Justice Department recently charged an Indian government employee in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader residing in New York City. This international scandal suggests a broader pattern of political assassinations allegedly supported by Indian officials.
Despite the grave diplomatic tensions, Verma expressed hope that the ongoing issues would not adversely affect business relations between India and Canada. He noted that non-political bilateral relations remain strong and should not be overshadowed by these incidents.
The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar has not only highlighted the fragility of India-Canada relations but has also brought attention to the broader issue of political activism within the Sikh diaspora. The Khalistan movement, which advocates for a separate Sikh state in India, remains a contentious and divisive topic, banned in India but with significant support in countries like Canada. As this diplomatic conflict unfolds, the international community watches closely, awaiting further developments that could redefine the diplomatic landscape between these two Commonwealth nations.