Xinhua, New Delhi/Ottawa, October 14th — The Ministry of External Affairs of India announced on the 14th the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats and the recall of six Indian diplomats from Canada. On the same day, Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs declared the expulsion of six Indian diplomats on the grounds of suspected involvement in violent criminal activities.

In a statement on the evening of the 14th, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that the Indian government demanded that six Canadian diplomats, including the Chargé d'Affaires, leave India before 23:59 on the 19th.

Earlier that day, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced in another statement that India had decided to recall its High Commissioner and five other diplomats from Canada. The statement read, "India has no confidence in the Canadian government's commitment to ensuring the safety of Indian diplomats, thus the decision to recall the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats."

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also disclosed that on the 13th, it received a notice from Canada stating that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were "suspects" in the investigation of the assassination of an India-born Sikh separatist in 2023. On the 14th, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Canadian Chargé d'Affaires to strongly refute and deny the allegations of Indian diplomatic personnel's involvement in the murder case, calling it an "absurd and baseless accusation."

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day, announcing the expulsion of the Indian High Commissioner and five other diplomats due to suspected involvement in violent criminal activities. The statement indicated that the Canadian police had gathered concrete evidence and, in order to further investigate and allow the police to interview the relevant personnel, Canada demanded that India waive diplomatic and consular immunity and cooperate with the investigation. However, due to India's refusal and considering the public safety of Canadians, Canada issued expulsion notices to the six individuals.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly stated that the decision to expel Indian diplomats was made after careful consideration, following the collection of ample, clear, and specific evidence by Canadian police, confirming the six individuals' involvement in the assassination case of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar, a Canadian national, was shot and killed in British Columbia, Canada, last June. He migrated to Canada from India in the 1990s, advocating for the independence of certain regions in India and was designated as a terrorist by the Indian government in July 2020. Canada accused the Indian government of being involved in the murder, a claim that was denied by India. The two countries have been accusing each other and expelling each other's diplomats, with India also imposing a visa ban on Canadian citizens.