The 2023 Canada–India diplomatic row refers to the diplomatic tensions in Canada–India relations that were triggered in September 2023, following Canada's allegations that the Indian government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While the accusations over Nijjar's assassination sparked off this diplomatic row, the tensions between India and Canada have been largely fuelled by disagreements over the Sikh separatist Khalistan Movement and its active supporters.
Background
In March 2023, Canada's High Commissioner was summoned by India to "convey strong concern" over Sikh protesters in Canada and the security breach of India's diplomatic mission and consulates.
In September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed concerns about the protests in Canada to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In 2023, Canada paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India. In September 2023, Canada announced it has postponed an October trade mission to India.
On 18 September 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau addressing the House of Commons said that "Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar". Trudeau stated that he had presented the accusations directly to Prime Minister Modi "in no uncertain terms" during the G20 summit in New Delhi. Trudeau further added that "Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty" while urging the Indian government to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.
Indian ministry of external affairs rejected Trudeau's allegations in a statement saying that claims of India's "involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated". It added that similar accusations made earlier by Trudeau to Prime Minister Modi had been "completely rejected". The statement further said that "Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India's sovereignty and territorial integrity". India urged Canada "to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil". It said that Canada's inaction has been "a long-standing and continuing concern".
Diplomatic row
On 18 September 2023, Canadian foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly announced that Canada had expelled 'Pavan Kumar Rai' — a "senior Indian diplomat". According to Joly, Pavan Kumar Rai was R&AW's Station Chief in Canada. The High Commission of India in Ottawa lists Rai as the minister responsible for "eco, coordination, community affairs".
In her statement, Joly said that Canada "will not tolerate any form of foreign interference". She added that such action "is not only troubling but it is completely unacceptable". She further said that India's involvement if proven true would be "a great violation of our sovereignty and of the most basic rule of how countries deal with each other".
On 19 September 2023, India expelled a top diplomat of Canada with five days' notice to leave the country amid "growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats" in India's "internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities", according to a statement from Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Expelled diplomat was Olivier Sylvestere, the India Station Chief of CSIS.
On 20 September 2023, India warned its citizens due to "growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence" to "exercise utmost caution" in Canada. Dominic LeBlanc, Canadian public safety minister, responded to the travel alert saying "Canada is a safe country".
On 21 September 2023, Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced that India has suspended "temporarily the issuance of visas or providing visa services" for all Canadian nationals in all categories, including e-visas and for Canadian citizens applying from third countries, due to "security threats" against its diplomats.
On 24 September 2023, Canada updated its travel advisory for India, advising its citizens there to "remain vigilant and exercise caution" due to "calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada on social media". It urges travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country".