The crisis between India and Canada deepens: New Delhi demands the withdrawal of 41 diplomats

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Sept. 9 during the G20 meeting in New Delhi.

The Government of India has asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in the Asian country. The request, made public by the Financial Times, requires Canadian staff to leave their posts no later than Oct. 10. Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have deteriorated since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian intelligence services of involvement in the murder of a Sikh leader in Surrey, British Columbia. The Executive of Narendra Modi strongly denies these allegations and, according to the information, threatens to revoke the diplomatic immunity of these 41 people if they remain in the country after October 10.

New Delhi has 21 diplomats on Canadian soil, so it wants Ottawa to have an equivalent number. Last September, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had already made reference to matching these figures. Prime Minister Trudeau declined on Tuesday to confirm the report published by the British newspaper. He said his government "does not seek escalation," but that the diplomatic crisis must be taken "very seriously." Trudeau did not say whether Canada would take a similar step and reiterated the importance of maintaining diplomatic ties with India. External Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stressed that communications with New Delhi continue "in private." "We believe diplomatic talks are best when they remain private," he said.

On September 18, the Canadian Prime Minister denounced during a parliamentary session the probable involvement of the Indian government in the assassination of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil, stressing that it could be an "unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of the country". Trudeau said Canadian security agencies have been studying for several weeks the links of this crime with the work of agents in New Delhi.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead on June 18 outside a Sikh temple in the city of Surrey. Singh Nijjar, with a Canadian passport, was a recognized leader of his community and advocated the independence of Punjab. Canada expelled an Indian diplomat following these allegations. The government of Narendra Modi responded a day later, taking the same measure with a Canadian diplomat and issuing a warning to its citizens traveling to Canada, due to "the multiplication of anti-Indian activities and hate crimes and political connotation in various parts of Canada." On 21 September, New Delhi announced the suspension of visa applications submitted by Canadian citizens. Ottawa has pointed out that much of the accusations against India are based on information gathered by intelligence services of other Western countries, for example the so-called Five Eyes group, an alliance between Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Follow all the international information on Facebook and X, or in our weekly newsletter.