Canada’s feud with India over its alleged involvement in last year’s killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in B.C. has taken another dramatic turn.
Driving the news: The Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats from the country, while the RCMP accused Indian government officials of having links to a notorious gang. India fervently denied the accusations and booted six Canadian diplomats.
- The potential involvement of Indian organized crime adds a new wrinkle to the RCMP’s investigation of Nijjar's death and India’s targeting of Canadian citizens.
Zoom out: The gang in question is led by Lawrence Bishnoi, a real mean customer. He faces or has faced some 40 cases of murder, extortion, and terror-related charges. And though he’s been in prison since 2015, he’s still suspected of giving orders from behind bars.
- Bishnoi is against the theoretical Sikh separatist state of Khalistan and previously claimed responsibility for ordering the killing of a pro-Khalistan gangster in Winnipeg.
Why it matters: While Canada and India said developments wouldn’t impact trade ties or pension deals, it’s hard to see a future where diplomatic relations ever fully recover after these new accusations — especially as India refuses to co-operate with investigators.—QH