Minister Joly announces expulsion of Indian diplomats related to ongoing investigation on violent criminal activity linked to the Government of India
News release
October 14, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Global Affairs Canada, today announced that six Indian diplomats and consular officials had received a notice of expulsion from Canada in relation to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) gathered information that established linkages between the investigation and agents of the Government of India. In order to further the investigation and allow the RCMP to interview relevant individuals, India was asked to waive diplomatic and consular immunities and to cooperate in the investigation. Regrettably, as India did not agree and given the ongoing public safety concerns for Canadians, Canada served notices of expulsion to these individuals. Subsequent to those notices, India announced it would withdraw its officials.
Canada and India have over 75 years of diplomatic relations. Our countries share important historic, business and people-to-people ties. Canada took this decision as its main interest remains the safety and security of all Canadians, defending our sovereignty and upholding the rule of law. Canada will continue to work diligently to do everything it can to keep Canadians safe now, and into the future. Dialogue with India continues through our High Commission in Delhi.
Quotes
“Keeping Canadians safe is the fundamental job of the Canadian government. The decision to expel these individuals was made with great consideration and only after the RCMP gathered ample, clear and concrete evidence which identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case. We continue to ask that the Indian government support the ongoing investigation in the Nijjar case, as it remains in both our countries’ interest to get to the bottom of this.”
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
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Canadian citizen and Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed on June 18, 2023, in British Columbia.
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In May 2024, the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigative Team and the Federal Policing Program Pacific Region announced the arrests of four individuals for their alleged involvement in the killing of Mr. Nijjar.
Associated links
- RCMP statement on violent criminal activity occurring in Canada with connections to agents of the Government of India
- Statement on expulsion of Canadian diplomats by the Government of India
- Statement on the arrests resulting from the investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
- Canada-India relations
Contacts
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Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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