India-Canada Row: Why are India and Canada face to face, how did the matter reach the point of recalling the ambassador? The full story of the dispute

The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada in the context of the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case has taken a very serious turn. On Monday, the Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and he was reprimanded for trying to link the Indian High Commissioner in Canada and the officials of the High Commission with the Nijjar murder case.

What is the new dispute between India and Canada?

On Monday, Canada included the name of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as 'Person of Interest' in the investigation of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Which means, the police feel that he may be involved in some crime. However, the police cannot arrest him, but he can be kept under investigation.

What action did India take against Canada?

India decided to call back its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and all other officials from Canada whom the Canadian government is trying to prosecute. Late in the evening, India expelled six diplomats including the Canadian High Commissioner. He has been asked to leave India by October 19.

What did India say on Canada's allegation?

The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement terming the allegations of the Justin Trudeau government of Canada as absurd and said that it no longer trusts the Trudeau government, it can do anything. It has also warned that it reserves the right to take further action against the Trudeau government, which supports extremism, violence, and separatism against India.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that India had received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday. It said that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are stakeholders in the matter related to the Nijjar murder case. Let us tell you that Nijjar was shot dead by unknown assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia in June 2023.

How did the India-Canada dispute start?

The India-Canada dispute started in the year 2023 when Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in Canada on June 18. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, declared a terrorist by India, was the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force. Canada had claimed India's involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On 18 September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament that agents of the Indian government had killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had called all the allegations of Canada baseless. It is worth noting that in this dispute going on for a year, Canada has not yet provided a single piece of evidence to India. What was India's response

"India reacted strongly and said, 'The Government of India categorically rejects the baseless allegations and considers it to be motivated by the vote bank politics agenda of the Trudeau administration. Not a single evidence has been provided to the Government of India yet about the allegations made by PM Trudeau in September 2023. There is no evidence behind the new step taken now. In such a situation, there is no doubt that the said step has been taken for political gain by damaging India's image.'

Anti-India statement also mentioned

Trudeau's visit to India in the year 2018 has also been mentioned, which Trudeau used to brighten his image in the Canadian elections.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said that Trudeau gave a place in his cabinet to those who support separatism and extremism against India.

An anti-India statement given by Trudeau in December 2020 has also been mentioned. The foreign ministry has said that targeting Indian diplomats is the next step in this thinking.

PM Trudeau surrounded by political challenges

It should be noted that Trudeau is surrounded by big internal political challenges. Last month, some of his allies withdrew support from the government. This included the NDP which has a significant influence. Although he was somehow able to prove majority in the confidence motion, his political position remains unstable. Along with this, there is also a crisis in the economic and housing sector. In this regard, the Trudeau government wants to be seen as supporting the interests of the fundamentalists. The way the Indian High Commission has been involved in the Nijjar case is a part of this.