Canada spat leads India newspapers, as analysts await reactions from peer countries

By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press on October 15, 2024.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exits his vehicle as he arrives for a news conference on the investigative efforts related to violent criminal activity occurring in Canada with connections to India, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA – Canada’s decision to expel New Delhi’s top envoy and five other diplomats is front-page news in India, as an analyst wonders how other countries will respond.

On Monday, the RCMP warned the public about a rash of crimes including murder, extortion and coercion that the force links to Indian government agents.

The RCMP and other Canadian officials presented evidence to India earlier this past weekend, but they say New Delhi refused to co-operate in police investigations.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says that is why Canada declared the six diplomats persona non grata, which is one of the stiffest penalties Canada can impose on under the Vienna Convention.

India insists it has not been given evidence of any government involvement in crimes in Canada, and it has ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave.

The diplomatic spat is the top headline on the front pages of the Times of India as well as the Indian Express.

Vina Nadjibulla, research vice-president for the Asia Pacific Foundation, says she’s watching to see how Canada’s peers respond to the “unprecedented, extraordinary” news.

That could mean diplomatic moves behind the scenes, and possibly public statements of support for Canada.

“The reaction from the U.S. is going to be the one that everybody will be paying attention to,” she said.

“In order for Canada, at this stage, to have any kind of co-operation from India and seek accountability for what has happened, we would need India to feel some pressure; we would need India to feel some reason to co-operate.”

Nadjibulla said it was notable that Joly accused active diplomats of involvement in criminality, and that she said violence linked to the Indian government had only increased since Canada made its concerns public last year.

In September 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canadian intelligence services are investigating “credible” information about “a potential link” between India’s government and the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

Nadjibulla said Ottawa has now “very clearly and assertively” made its case, in sending senior officials this past weekend to present evidence to Indian counterparts.

“Canada did what it thought was necessary,” she said. “We are in uncharted territory, with implications for the diplomatic relationship as well as for Canada’s public safety and national security.”

Nadjibulla also said it’s rare for diplomats to be expelled over accusations of criminality. “We’re not dealing here with a rogue state; we’re dealing here with a very important international player,” she said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will speak with the media later this morning about the developments. His party has called for sanctions, and for Canada to bar a Hindu group that Canadian Sikhs and Muslims have accused of spreading hate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2024.