Canada and India are going through a serious diplomatic crisis. In the middle, the United Kingdom imposes itself as mediator between the two countries to which it is very close. Relations deteriorated between Ottawa and New Delhi when the former pointed the finger at the latter, suspecting it of being behind the death of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjarkilled last June in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Parliament in Ottawa on Monday about “credible elements” against India, which New Delhi described on Tuesday as “completely absurd”.
London acts as referee
British Foreign Minister James Cleverly, who represents his Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the UN General Assembly, told AFP that he had discussed this matter with Justin Trudeau on Monday. “It is particularly important that we let the Canadian authorities carry out their investigation,” underlined the head of diplomacy, without speculating on his conclusions.
“We obviously have a very strong relationship with Canada and a very strong relationship with India,” argued the minister of the former colonial power, asking New Delhi for “all its cooperation” in the investigation.
Expulsion of diplomats
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it had ordered a high-ranking Canadian diplomat to leave the country within five days in retaliation for the expulsion a few hours earlier by Ottawa of a senior Indian diplomat. New Delhi said Canada’s accusations were “aimed at diverting attention from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have taken refuge in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
An activist for the creation of a Sikh state known as Khalistan, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was wanted by the Indian authorities for alleged acts of “terrorism” and conspiracy to commit murder. Accusations that he denied, according to the World Organization of Sikhs of Canada, a non-profit organization which claims to defend their interests.