OTTAWA — Accusations of widespread murder, extortion and coercion across Canada linked to agents of the government of India sparked an escalation of already strained diplomatic tensions Monday, as each country expelled six diplomats.
Canada declared six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, persona non grata after RCMP and other government officials told India its diplomats were persons of interest in several investigations into violent crimes in Canada.The RCMP tells The Canadian Press it is investigating three homicides across Canada over the last two years with possible links to India, but would not clarify if that includes the high-profile killing of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.
RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme told a news conference in Ottawa that the force decided to take the"extraordinary" step of warning the public after Indian government officials refused to co-operate in their investigation of the threats. India says the prospect is unconstitutional and threatens the country's national security. Ottawa has long stressed that it upholds India's territorial integrity but won't crack down on freedom of expression in Canada.
RCMP assistant commissioner Brigitte Gauvin said the service has so far arrested and charged eight people with the homicide cases, and 22 more people have been charged with extortion. The ministry claimed that the Canadian government has not shared a"shred of evidence" since Trudeau rose in the House of Commons in September 2023 to announce that investigators had credible intelligence linking India's government to the shooting death of Nijjar."The violence actually increased following the allegations a year ago," Joly said. She has reached out to Canada's peers in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
India said Monday that it was withdrawing six of its diplomats, including its high commissioner in Canada. But Canada said India's statement only came after Ottawa had declared high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and five other diplomats persona non grata.
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