NEW DELHI: India has withdrawn six diplomatic officials, including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, who Canada accused of being involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada had earlier demanded the removal of these officials. Following this, India expelled six diplomatic officials from the Canadian Embassy in Delhi.

At the same time, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme alleged in a press conference that Indian diplomats and consular officials were misusing facilities to conduct secret activities. The Police Commissioner pointed out that the Indian government's interventions were posing a serious threat to public safety in Canada.

Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert are among those expelled by India. First Secretaries Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka, and Paula Orjuela are the other diplomats expelled by New Delhi.

Tensions between India and Canada escalated after India received a letter from Canada the other day, mentioning the names of the High Commissioner and others in connection with the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case. Following this, India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned Canadian Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler and expressed protest. Stewart Wheeler responded that Canada had provided India with credible and irrefutable evidence.

India later announced its decision to withdraw its High Commissioner, citing the Canadian government's inability to provide security to Indian officials amidst an environment of terrorism and violence.

"High Commissioner Verma is a senior diplomat with 36 years of experience. The allegations against him are disgraceful. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centred around vote bank politics," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

No High Commissioner in both countries

1. In October 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of being involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. Following this accusation, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat. In retaliation, India expelled Canadian High Commissioner Cameron McKay from Delhi and demanded the recall of 41 other Canadian diplomats. Since McKay's expulsion, Canada has not appointed a new High Commissioner.

2. Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead on June 18, 2023, near a gurudwara in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was on India's watchlist for his alleged ties to the Khalistan Tiger Force, which carries out destructive activities in Punjab.

3. The Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police revealed that despite engagements with Indian law enforcement authorities to share evidence on the Indian government's alleged role in grave criminal offences committed in Canada, the efforts yielded no tangible outcomes.