‘On Notice, We Won’t Tolerate...’: Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Issues Warning to Remaining Indian Diplomats

The already strained relationship between India and Canada reached a new low on October 14 when New Delhi announced its decision to withdraw the High Commissioner to Ottawa along with "other targeted diplomats." In response, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly issued a warning to the remaining Indian diplomats during a press conference in Montreal.

Joly stated that the 15 Indian diplomats still in Canada were "clearly on notice" regarding their conduct and must comply with Canadian laws. "We won’t tolerate any diplomats who contravene the Vienna Convention," she emphasised.

The escalating tension between the two nations comes as India rejects the allegations from the Justin Trudeau government about the involvement of Indian diplomats in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported threats against members of the South Asian community, particularly those associated with the pro-Khalistan movement. Joly confirmed that these threats were serious enough to require public disclosure, marking an unprecedented instance of alleged "transnational repression" on Canadian soil. She noted that such interference had not been seen in Canada before, likening it to actions taken by Russia against other nations.

"There was definitely a threat, which is why the RCMP took the extraordinary step of making public the fact that Canadians were being intimidated and facing extortion or even death threats linked to actions by Indian agents and diplomats," Joly said.