Canada-India diplomatic relations have further strained following new allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On Wednesday, October 16, Trudeau escalated his tone, accusing India of violating Canadian sovereignty. "India has violated Canada's sovereignty, that's their big mistake," Trudeau said.

Earlier, on Monday, October 14, Trudeau told the Canadian Foreign Office committee that New Delhi was denying evidence of its involvement in Nijjar’s murder. He also claimed that India was personally targeting him. Adding to the diplomatic tension, Canada’s investigative agency declared Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma a 'person of interest' in the Nijjar case on Sunday. However, due to diplomatic immunity, no legal actions were taken against Verma.

India, in response, dismissed these accusations as a political tactic. On Monday morning, India's Ministry of External Affairs called Trudeau's claims "targeted and unreasonable," asserting that the Canadian government had yet to provide any evidence of India's involvement in the assassination. India later issued a notification recalling Sanjay Kumar Verma and several other diplomats for security reasons. In a tit-for-tat move, New Delhi also ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave India by December 19.

The conflict dates back to June 18, 2023, when Nijjar, a leader of the Khalistani movement who was labeled a terrorist by India in 2020, was killed outside a gurdwara in British Columbia, Canada. Following the incident, Trudeau accused India of being involved in the murder, worsening relations between the two nations. India, in turn, criticized Canada for allegedly harboring pro-Khalistani elements that sought to divide India.

This escalation follows a history of diplomatic expulsions. Last year, Canada expelled an Indian diplomat accused of involvement in Nijjar's death, prompting India to retaliate by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat. India's government maintains that Trudeau's government is reviving the controversy to gain support from hardline Khalistani groups ahead of Canada’s upcoming elections.

Adding complexity to the situation, a report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) released earlier this year hinted at covert interference by both Pakistan and India in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 general elections. This report further fueled tensions in the already delicate Canada-India relationship.

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