India and Canada are expelling six diplomats each amid Ottawa’s allegations that New Delhi was involved in the murder of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil. India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who is being expelled as part of the tit-for-tat diplomatic standoff, has strongly denied the allegations, stating that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations are based on intelligence rather than solid evidence.
Verma’s rebuttal, delivered in an interview with CTV News on Sunday, underscores the growing friction between the two countries, which have long maintained a delicate balance in their relations despite differences over the Sikh diaspora and separatist sentiments. The row centers around the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist leader, in British Columbia last year—a crime Trudeau claims is tied to Indian agents.
The diplomatic spat unfolded rapidly earlier this week when both Ottawa and New Delhi ordered six diplomats from each country to leave. This followed Trudeau’s statement linking the expulsion to Nijjar’s assassination. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and an outspoken advocate for a separate Sikh homeland (Khalistan), was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
Trudeau’s public remarks, suggesting that Indian operatives were involved in the assassination, prompted a swift and fiery reaction from India, which dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The Indian government called the charges “absurd” and retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats in what was clearly a reciprocal move.
In his interview, Verma was unambiguous in his denial of involvement in Nijjar’s killing. “On the basis of intelligence, if you want to destroy a relationship, be my guest. And that’s what he did,” Verma said, referencing Trudeau’s actions. He emphasized that no evidence had been presented to substantiate Canada’s claims, calling them politically driven. “Nothing at all. No evidence was presented. (This is) politically motivated,” he said.
The Khalistan movement, which seeks the creation of an independent Sikh state, has long been a point of contention between India and Canada. Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside India, with over 770,000 Sikhs residing primarily in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The movement, which gained momentum in the 1980s, was largely quashed within India but continues to have a significant support base among certain sections of the Canadian Sikh community.
India has frequently expressed concerns about the activities of Khalistani sympathizers in Canada, accusing them of promoting separatism and violence against India. Pro-Khalistan rallies, often held in cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Surrey, have led to diplomatic rifts in the past. India perceives the movement as a threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Canada, under the guise of free speech and peaceful assembly, has allowed these protests to occur, further straining bilateral relations.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was one of the most vocal figures advocating for Khalistan in Canada. His assassination in 2023 inflamed an already delicate situation, with pro-Khalistan factions accusing the Indian government of orchestrating the killing. These accusations are now being echoed by Trudeau, placing enormous strain on India-Canada relations.
Despite the diplomatic storm, Verma expressed optimism that non-political relations, particularly trade and cultural ties, would not suffer irreparable damage. He emphasized that the expulsion of diplomats and the accusations surrounding Nijjar’s murder were political in nature and separate from the broader economic relationship between the two countries.
“There will be emotions on both sides… which may impact a few of those deals, but the larger picture is that I don’t see much impact on non-political bilateral relations,” Verma said.
India and Canada share a robust trade partnership, with two-way trade amounting to $8.4 billion by the end of the last fiscal year. Canada has been a major supplier of commodities like uranium, lentils, and timber to India, while India exports pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services to Canada. Moreover, India is one of the largest contributors of international students to Canadian universities, further strengthening the people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Verma’s assertion that trade relations would remain mostly unaffected suggests that the economic benefits of cooperation will likely outweigh the political tensions. Both countries have significant stakes in maintaining a functional trade relationship, with Canada looking to diversify its markets amid global economic uncertainties and India seeking to bolster its supply chains.
Canada’s large Sikh population plays a pivotal role in the country’s political and social fabric, particularly in provinces like British Columbia and Ontario. Sikhs in Canada have a strong presence in politics, with several prominent figures, including federal ministers and Members of Parliament, hailing from the community. Jagmeet Singh, the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP), is a notable Sikh politician who has advocated for the rights of the Sikh diaspora and has been critical of India’s handling of Khalistan-related issues.
This political influence means that Trudeau’s government cannot afford to ignore the sentiments of the Sikh population, which is a significant voter base in key electoral districts. The Prime Minister’s strong stance on the Nijjar issue could be seen as a calculated political move to maintain the support of the Sikh community, especially as his government faces criticism on other fronts, such as the economy and healthcare.
At the same time, Canada’s approach to managing relations with India is complex. While Ottawa does not officially support the Khalistan movement, it has historically been lenient toward pro-Khalistan groups due to the country’s commitment to freedom of expression. This has long frustrated India, which views these groups as extremist and violent.
The diplomatic fallout between India and Canada is one of the most significant challenges the two countries have faced in recent years. While political relations are clearly strained, both sides have much to lose if tensions spill over into other areas, such as trade, education, and cultural exchanges.
Verma’s comments suggest that India may seek to compartmentalize its differences with Canada, preserving economic cooperation while addressing political disagreements separately. This pragmatic approach may help to prevent a complete breakdown in relations, though it remains to be seen how long the current tensions will persist.
For Canada, the challenge will be balancing its domestic political considerations with the need to maintain constructive relations with India, a key partner in Asia and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Trudeau’s government is likely to face increasing pressure to provide concrete evidence supporting its allegations against India, especially as the expulsion of diplomats heightens the stakes.
