New Delhi, October 15, 2024: Following India’s expulsion of six Canadian diplomats, foreign policy expert and Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, Sushant Sareen, called for an investigation into Canada’s interference in India’s internal affairs, particularly focusing on Canadian NGOs and embassies that support Khalistani elements.
Sareen emphasized that Canada’s actions have made it untenable for Indian officials to remain in the country. “The calling back of our officials, about whom Canadians have said that investigations can be done against them, if you say this about any official that they will be investigated, then it becomes completely dishonest for them to stay in the country. The official can’t function there,” he stated.
While praising India’s strong diplomatic response, Sareen urged additional action. “The reaction is quite strong, but along with the reaction, there should be some action also. Canada’s interference in India, be it their NGOs, their embassies, should also be investigated so that they can be exposed as to how they encourage Khalistanis,” he added.
Sareen also suggested that India could take further steps if relations deteriorate. “India can keep open embassies but can close their consulates if relations deteriorate further,” he said. He warned that the strained relations may not improve soon, even with a change in leadership in Canada. “The relations have become so bad that even if Trudeau is not there in power, I don’t think the relations will get normalised any sooner. The poison that Trudeau has put into this relationship will take a lot of time to heal, and it won’t happen overnight.”
Foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev echoed similar sentiments, attributing Canada’s response to “vote bank politics.” He said, “There are two main reasons why Canada reacted the way it did. The first is the vote bank politics of the Trudeau government in Canada… Secondly, he is playing a game of Chinese checkers. He is under a scandal in Canada for interference by China… He is now trying to deflect that scandal by focusing on India.”
Sachdev added that India’s expulsion of diplomats signals a lack of confidence in the Canadian government. “By withdrawing its diplomats from Canada, India has announced its no-confidence in the Government of Canada,” he said.
Former Indian Ambassador Gautam Bambawale also expressed concern over the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada, explaining that the decision to recall them was based on doubts about Canada’s ability to guarantee their security. “The Government of India is not confident anymore that the Government of Canada can keep our diplomats safe. That is why they are recalling them to India to ensure their safety and security,” he said.
Bambawale also condemned Canada’s accusations against the Indian High Commissioner in connection with the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case, calling it a “very serious allegation” that reflects the low level of trust between the two nations.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly defended the expulsion of Indian diplomats, citing evidence gathered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in connection with Nijjar’s killing. India, however, has strongly rejected these allegations, calling them “preposterous imputations” and a part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political agenda.
India expelled six Canadian diplomats hours after summoning Canada’s Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler, rejecting any suggestion that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were “persons of interest” in the case. India also accused the Canadian government of providing space to extremists and terrorists to “harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada.”
