Frosty relations between Ottawa and New Delhi froze to ice on Monday, as both countries also declared that a total of six diplomats from each side were considered persona non grata – unwanted – and had to leave the countries as soon as possible.
The reason is the criminal investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year, which entered a new phase with suspicions that the Indian envoy may have been involved in the murder. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously said that there are "credible allegations" that Indian intelligence was involved in the crime.
The targeted suspicions sparked Indian anger, and they preceded the decision to expel the diplomat by using one of the sharpest diplomatic weapons available: to recall their envoy.
"No trust"
"We have no trust in the current Canadian government's promise to ensure (diplomats') safety", writes India's Foreign Ministry.
Additionally, India chose to declare on Monday evening that six Canadian diplomats were persona non grata – unwanted – and had to leave the country this week.
At the same time, news came from Ottawa that six Indian diplomats stationed in Canada were no longer welcome in the country, according to a high-ranking Canadian diplomatic source.
Sikh leader in exile
Sikh leader Nijjar moved to Canada in 1997 and became a citizen there in 2015. Nijjar advocated for an independent Sikh state in India, which accused him of, among other things, terrorism.
Four people, all Indian citizens, have previously been arrested for the murder, which was committed on a parking lot outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver.
