Diplomatic relationship between India and Canada has worsened in the past few weeks

New Delhi: The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada has worsened in the past few weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the Indian government could be behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside at a parking lot outside a Gurdwara in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. India has outrightly rejected the claim, calling it "absurd" and “politically motivated”.

Bilateral ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

Amid the tensions, both sides expelled diplomats, while India stopped processing visa applications by Canadians. On Tuesday, the Indian government reportedly told Canada to withdraw dozens of diplomats from the country. According to the report, Ottawa has been told by New Delhi that it must repatriate roughly 40 diplomats by October 10.

India-Canada ties fray in row over Sikh separatist killing

Here's a list of diplomatic and trade actions taken by the two nations so far:

• Canada paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India, a Canadian official said on Sept. 1, an unexpected move that came about three months after both countries said they planned to seal an initial pact this year.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed strong concerns about Sikh separatist protests in Canada to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of a G20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10.

• Canada postponed a trade mission to India planned for October led by Trade Minister Mary Ng, a spokesperson for the minister said on Sept. 15. Canada's decision to halt trade treaty talks and postpone the mission was due to concerns surrounding the murder, a Canadian source told Reuters.

• Trudeau told parliament on Sept. 18 that Canada was "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen campaigning for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland carved out of India.

• India dismissed Trudeau's assertion as "absurd" on Sept. 19. Both countries expelled a diplomat in tit-for-tat moves, with Canada throwing out India's top intelligence officer in the country while India expelled his Canadian counterpart.

• India urged its citizens in Canada to exercise caution in a statement on Sept. 20, as the U.S., Australia and Britain expressed concerns about the issue.

• India's JSW Steel Ltd is slowing down the process to buy a stake in the steelmaking coal unit of Canada's Teck Resources, Reuters reported on Sept. 21 citing a source close to the discussions.

• India suspended issuing new visas for Canadians on Sept. 22 and asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India.

• Fertiliser importer Indian Potash said on Sept. 22 that it does not expect supplies of Canadian potash to be affected by the row and that it hopes to extend a contract with Canadian supplier Canpotex beyond the end of September. Canada is one of the key suppliers of potash to India.

• Canadian lentil sales to India slowed after tensions rose between the two nations, industry sources in both countries told Reuters. Canada is India's main import source of lentils, a protein-rich staple.

• India's steel secretary told reporters on Sept. 28 that Indian exports to Canada were marginal and have not been affected by the diplomatic row.

Canada is in talks with India over diplomats as dispute grows

Canada wants private talks with India to resolve a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Tuesday, after a report said India had asked the country to withdraw 41 diplomats.

"We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats' safety very seriously and we will continue to engage privately because we think diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private," Joly told reporters.

Melanie Joly said Tuesday that Canada is in “constant cooperation and dialogue with India” after reports that Canada has been instructed to reduce the number of diplomats by two-thirds, a move that would send dozens of staff home and significantly reduce its contingent in New Delhi.

“In moments of tensions — because indeed there are tensions between both our governments — more than ever it’s important that diplomats be on the ground and that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India,” she said in Ottawa.

PM Trudeau says his country is not looking to escalate the situation

We want to be on the ground in India to help Canadian families, says PM Trudeau. We want to be on the ground in India to help Canadian families there, said Prime Minister. 'We're going through an extremely challenging time with India,' says Trudeau

"Obviously, we're going through an extremely challenging time with India right now," PM Trudeau was quoted as saying by the Canadian newspaper.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada has no intention of escalating the situation with India and will maintain responsible and constructive engagement with New Delhi.

What is the reaction of US?

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met last week with India’s foreign minister amid the simmering row between New Delhi and Ottawa. A U.S. official said the topic was raised.

U.S. officials have acknowledged that the fallout from the allegations, which they take seriously, could have a profound impact on relations with India, but have been careful not to cast blame in the killing of Nijjar. There is a priority among the allies to bolster ties with India as a counterweight to Beijing’s rising power and assertiveness.

The Biden Administration has engaged with the Indian government on a number of occasions urging them to cooperate with Canada in its investigations into the death of a Khalistani separatist, a US State Department official has said.

Canadian MP questions Justin Trudeau to provide 'evidence'

Canadian MP Kevin Vuong has asked the Justin Trudeau government to provide evidence backing its allegation that the Indian government was possibly behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on its soil.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot to death in June in British Columbia (BC). India has outrightly denied Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's allegation of the Indian government's involvement in Nijjar's murder, which took place in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey.

However, Jagmeet Singh, the head of Canada's New Democratic Party, an ally of Trudeau's Liberal Party of Canada, said there was a “clear” indication of a foreign government being involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen. He also called for the inclusion of India in a probe launched in September of alleged interference in Canadian affairs by other countries, especially China.

"In my experience, as a Sikh Canadian, there have always been suspicions that India was interfering in the democratic rights of Canadians," Singh said.

Who was Sukhdool Singh?

A resident of Duneka village in Punjab's Moga district, Sukhdool, 40, was shot dead in the Canadian city of Winnipeg by unidentified people, with officials terming it “a result of inter-gang rivalry”. Sukhdool's killing came amidst diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar by unidentified assailants in British Columbia's Surrey in June 2023.

India's wanted gangster Sukhdool Singh, who was fatally shot last month in northwest Winnipeg city in Canada, was associated with terrorist entities like designated Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dala for acquiring sophisticated weapons to run his syndicate.

India's federal probe agency National National Investigation Agency (NIA) had mentioned the fact in one of its charge sheets filed in a special court in Delhi in March this year naming Sukhdool and 21 others.

As per the charge sheet, Sukhdool, who also went by the alias Sukh Duneke and was known as a notorious criminal in India for allegedly organizing hits on rival gang members there, and a few gang members such as Gaurav Patyal fled India and ran their syndicate from abroad.