India-Canada Relations: India has decided to recall its High Commissioner and other 'targeted' diplomats and officials from Canada. India has taken this action in response to Canada's attempt to link these officials to the investigation into the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

The decision was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs shortly after summoning the Canadian Charge d'Affaires. It said, "The Canadian Charge d'Affaires was summoned by the Secretary (East) on Monday evening. He was told that the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada is completely unacceptable."

India-Canada relations sour

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, 'It was emphasized that the actions of the Trudeau government in the environment of extremism and violence have endangered their security. We have no confidence in the commitment of the current Canadian government to ensure their security.' Now let us tell you when the relations between India and Canada went off track and the relations between the two countries turned sour.

Where did the deterioration of relations begin?  

Relations between India and Canada started souring in 2018. In February 2018, Justin Trudeau came on an 8-day visit to India at the invitation of PM Modi. The press called it a disaster. 

However, the visit was marred by reports that a former convicted member of a Sikh separatist group had been invited to a formal event hosted by the Canadian High Commissioner. But this was later canceled.

Then came the year 2020. Farmers took to the streets in India. Many borders of Delhi were sealed. Trudeau expressed concern about the protesting farmers. This was the first comment by an international leader on this domestic issue of India. India got angry with this comment of Trudeau and summoned the High Commissioner of Canada.

Sometimes vandalism of temple, sometimes anti-India slogans

The sourness in relations had started to subside when in September 2022, anti-India slogans were raised and vandalism was done at the Swaminarayan temple in Toronto. India requested Canada to investigate the matter and catch the culprits. But Canada has not taken any action to date.

India had expressed concern.

Last year in March 2023, thousands of people gathered outside the Indian Embassy in Vancouver. This gathering was held amid the search for fugitive Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie had said in a statement that the government is aware of the situation in Punjab. She had said, 'We are closely monitoring this. We want the situation to return to normal as soon as possible.' Later, India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner. India expressed concern over how pro-Khalistani people gathered outside the Indian Embassy.

After this, in June 2023, relations between India and Canada became more sour when the NSA of the Trudeau government alleged that India was one of the major sources of foreign interference in Canada. 

India attacked Canada

After this, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attacked Canada for allowing the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi to be shown in a program. 

In the same month, on June 18, Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara. After this, hundreds of people gathered outside the Indian Embassy.

In September 2023, Canada halted talks on a proposed trade deal with India. On the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, PM Modi expressed concern to Trudeau about the protests by Sikh supporters in Canada. After this, Canada stopped a trade mission to India in October. 

Canada crossed all limits.

The matter did not end here. After this, Canada crossed all limits of lying. In the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau claimed that India was involved in the murder of Najjar. India called these claims absurd and asked Canada to take action against anti-India elements. The next day, Trudeau again reiterated his statement and expelled Indian diplomat Pawan Kumar Verma. After this, India limited visas for Canadians and asked Indians to be cautious in Canada. Also, Canada was asked to reduce its diplomats in India.

In October 2023, India expelled 41 Canadian ambassadors and their families. 

In January 2024, Canada's Independent Inquiry into Foreign Interference asked Ottawa to share information about possible interference by India in the elections. India rejected these allegations. 

In April 2024, Canada accused India and Pakistan of interfering in its elections, which India flatly denied. There are many other absurd allegations that Canada keeps making against India. But it has no evidence to prove these allegations.