Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will consult opposition leaders regarding the ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada.
In a post on X, Ramesh stated on Monday, “The Indian National Congress certainly hopes and expects that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take into confidence the Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament and the leaders of other political parties on this extremely sensitive and critical issue of India-Canada relations.”
The diplomatic fallout escalated earlier on Monday when India expelled six Canadian diplomats. This action followed a meeting with Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, during which India conveyed its strong disapproval of what it termed the “baseless targeting” of its diplomats in Canada.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement detailing the expulsion of the Canadian diplomats: “The Indian government has decided to expel the following six Canadian diplomats: Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner; Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner; Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary; lan Ross David Trites, First Secretary; Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary; Paula Orjuela, First Secretary.” They have been instructed to leave India by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
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This diplomatic dispute arises after allegations from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme. He claimed that Canadian law enforcement had information linking agents of the Indian government to various criminal activities.
Duheme noted, “Over the past few years, law enforcement agencies in Canada have successfully investigated and charged individuals involved in homicides, extortions, and other violent acts. Additionally, there have been credible threats to the safety of members of the South Asian community, particularly those in the pro-Khalistan movement.”
The RCMP further alleged that Indian diplomats in Canada engaged in clandestine operations, gathering intelligence for the Indian government.
Tensions between India and Canada heightened after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged last year that India was implicated in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, designated a terrorist by India in 2020, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June 2023.
India has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as “absurd” and “motivated.” Additionally, it has accused Canada of providing a safe haven for extremist elements opposed to India.