The political rift between India and Canada intensified after Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly, said on Friday that the remaining Indian diplomats from India in the country are ‘clearly on notice.’ The warning comes amid rising tensions following allegations linking the Indian government to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
According to reports, Joly said, “Six of the diplomats from India have been expelled, including the high commissioner in Ottawa. Others were from Vancouver and Toronto. “We won’t tolerate any diplomats that violate the Vienna Convention,” she added.
Rise In Diplomatic Tensions
The India-Canada row escalated earlier this week after Canada expelled India’s high commissioner and five other diplomats, citing they were involved in the murder plot of Nijjar. In response, India also expelled six Canadian diplomats.
The expulsions made by both countries led to tensions in diplomatic ties between India and Canada.
Canadian PM Trudeau Says, ‘No Hard Evidence’; MEA Responds
In a late-night statement on October 17, the Ministry of External Affairs affirmed its position after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before a Commission of Inquiry amid a huge diplomatic row. Responding to the assertions, MEA said that it only confirms what they have been consistently saying that Canada has provided no hard evidence related to the allegations it made against India and its diplomats.
Reacting to the claims made by PM Trudeau that there isn’t ‘hard evidentiary proof’ and relying on ‘intelligence,’ the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that Canada has never been provided evidence to support its allegations.
India denied Canada’s allegations, claiming they are ‘absurd and baseless.’ It has also criticised the Trudeau government for dealing softly with supporters of the Khalistan movement who reside in Canada.