India Recalls Ambassador from Canada Amid Escalating Dispute Over Sikh Activist’s Death

India announced on Monday that it is recalling its ambassador and other diplomats from Canada. This comes after India rejected a Canadian notification that the ambassador was a “person of interest” in the killing of a Sikh activist in 2023.

India’s foreign ministry issued a statement declaring that it had also summoned the top Canadian diplomat in New Delhi and informed him that “the baseless targeting” of the Indian high commissioner, or ambassador, and other diplomats and officials in Canada “was completely unacceptable.”

“We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security,” the statement said. “Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials.”

In September of last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that there were credible allegations that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in India. India dismissed this accusation as absurd.

In Ottawa, messages left for Canada’s foreign ministry, foreign minister and the prime minister’s office seeking comment were not immediately returned.