India expels 6 Canadian diplomats after withdrawing Indian envoy to Canada
India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats amid rising diplomatic tensions with Canada.
In a statement, the ministry of external affairs listed the names of Canadian diplomats who have been asked to leave the country by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert along with first secretaries Marie Catherine Joly, Ian Ross David Trites, Adam James Chuipka and Paula Orjuela are the diplomats expelled by New Delhi.
Earlier, the MEA announced that it is withdrawing the Indian high commissioner and other diplomats after they were labelled as ‘persons of interest’ by Ottawa in its probe into the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In its statement, the MEA stated it summoned Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, who was told that the baseless “targeting” of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats and officials was “completely unacceptable.”
“It was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government’s actions endangered their safety. We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” the MEA added.