India is bringing back the high commissioner from Canada, what is the indication?
The killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar has again strained India’s diplomatic relations with Canada. In this situation, New Delhi is withdrawing the High Commissioner appointed in Ottawa.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs took this decision on Monday after Canada complained that some people there, including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Barma, were involved in Nijjar’s murder. News from NDTV.
The charge of affairs of the Canadian High Commission in Delhi was summoned this evening and told that New Delhi does not trust the Canadian government’s promise to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said that the actions of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government in an environment of extremism and violence have put their (diplomats including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Barma) at risk. That’s why we don’t trust the Canadian government’s commitment to ensure their safety. Therefore, the Indian government has decided to withdraw the high commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials.
Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45) was shot dead in front of a Sikh temple in Canada’s British Columbia province on June 18. Two masked men shot him and fled in a busy parking lot next to the temple, 30 kilometers from Vancouver.
Nijjar openly campaigned in favor of the movement to form an independent ‘Khalistan’ state of the Sikhs in the Punjab province of India.
The Sikhs started an armed struggle in the 1970s to form a separate state, resulting in thousands of deaths. Although the movement on Indian soil has subsided due to New Delhi’s action, the Sikhs are campaigning for an independent state in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom. It has increased significantly especially in recent years.
India declared Nijjar a ‘terrorist’ for campaigning for an independent Sikh state. According to his followers, Nijjar received death threats for his activities before he was killed.
At that time, accusing the Indian government of the murder, Justin Trudeau said, “This accusation is being made on the basis of all the intelligence information of the Canadian government.” The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Canada on the contrary and said, “Canada has been harboring Khalistani terrorists and extremists who are a threat to India’s national security for a long time. ‘
In turn, the war of words subsided once. But recently, a move by Canada has again created tension about Delhi-Ottawa.
Canada’s diplomatic channel said on Sunday that India’s high commissioner and some of his fellow diplomats have been identified as ‘persons of interest’ (suspects or persons under surveillance) in Nijjar’s murder.
This means the Canadian government may also question the High Commissioner in the investigation into the murder.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs gave a strong response on Monday. It is said from their side that India is strictly rejecting such ‘outrageous allegations’.
The Indian government said Canada’s allegations were part of Trudeau’s “political agenda”. Delhi has also warned Ottawa against any action without specific information.
