India withdraws envoy, diplomats named 'persons of interest' in Canada probe

India's ambassador to Canada and other Indian diplomats have been labeled "persons of interest" in an unspecified "matter related to an investigation" in Canada, according to a statement by India’s foreign ministry on Monday, citing diplomatic communication from Ottawa.

New Delhi dismissed the allegations as "preposterous imputations," accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of advancing a "political agenda" driven by "vote bank politics."

Tensions between the two nations have remained high since September 2023, when Trudeau asserted that Canada possessed credible evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of a Sikh separatist leader that year. India strongly denied the allegations and criticized Canada for not providing any supporting evidence.

India confirmed it had received diplomatic communication from Canada on Sunday but did not disclose further details.
"This latest step follows interactions that have once again featured assertions without facts. It leaves little doubt that, under the guise of an investigation, there is a deliberate effort to tarnish India for political gain," the foreign ministry said in its statement.

"India now reserves the right to take additional measures in response to these latest attempts by the Canadian government to fabricate allegations against Indian diplomats."

The statement also accused the Trudeau administration of "deliberately creating space for violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten, and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada."

Diplomatic Fallout Escalates

In October 2023, Canada withdrew over 40 diplomats from India after New Delhi demanded a reduction in Ottawa’s diplomatic presence.

In June, a Canadian parliamentary committee identified India and China as the two main foreign threats to Canada’s democratic institutions, based on intelligence agency assessments. India's ambassador to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, dismissed the report as politically motivated and influenced by Sikh separatist campaigners.

Earlier this year, Trudeau expressed hope that India would "engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter."

U.S. Involvement Complicates the Situation

Following Canada’s allegations, the U.S. made a related claim, alleging that Indian agents had been involved in an attempted assassination of another Sikh separatist leader in New York in 2023. The U.S. said it had indicted an Indian national allegedly acting on instructions from an unnamed Indian government official.

While India responded angrily to Canada’s accusations, its reaction to the U.S. was more measured. India expressed concern over the U.S. claims, distanced itself from the plot, and launched its own investigation.

These assassination plots involving Sikh separatist figures have strained India’s relations with Canada and the U.S., both of which aim to strengthen ties with New Delhi as part of broader efforts to counter China’s growing influence globally.