India-Canada News: India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced the recall of its High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials “being targeted” from Canada. India's High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and five other officials will return from Canada later this week. After returning to India, they will be given enhanced security due to possible Khalistani threats. According to intelligence sources, these officers are facing serious threat from pro-Khalistani groups.
Additionally, other Indian diplomats and officials recently posted to Canada will also be provided special security. Apart from Sanjay Kumar Verma, Toronto's Consul General Siddharth Nath is considered most “in danger”. He too was recently asked to leave Canada. Nath took charge of the Toronto Consulate in August last year. Nath took charge just two months after the killing of British Columbia's prominent Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
$500,000 reward for pro-Khalistani group
Pro-Khalistan group 'Sikhs for Justice' (SFJ) has announced a reward of $500,000 for tracking the activities of High Commissioner Verma. SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Pannu said in a statement that they would “keep an eye on every movement of Sanjay Kumar Verma” and make efforts to bring him “to justice”. SFJ alleges that Verma was allegedly involved in Nijjar's murder and the organization has been continuously writing letters to the Prime Minister of Canada to investigate the matter.
India's response: Strictness on OCI card, not on visa
According to sources, the Indian government is planning to take strict action against the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards of Canadian citizens of Indian origin linked to Khalistani activities. However, it is unlikely to impose a moratorium on visa issuance, as was the case following Prime Minister Trudeau's statement last year.
Trudeau's statement: “Steps necessary for public safety”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said serving removal notices to six Indian officials was “necessary” to stop criminal activities that continue to threaten Canada's public safety. At present, amid the increasing tension between India and Canada over the Khalistani issue, the security of Indian diplomats and officials is being increased.
