Ottawa: In a decisive move, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has issued a stern warning to the remaining Indian diplomats in Canada, signaling a zero-tolerance policy towards any further criminal activities.

According to Kashmir Media Service, this announcement comes in the wake of Canada expelling six Indian diplomats for their alleged involvement in serious criminal activities, including murder and extortion. The expelled diplomats reportedly acted under directives from New Delhi, which has stirred significant diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.

The controversy escalated with the identification of India’s high commissioner as a person of interest in the assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on June 18, 2023. Minister Joly highlighted the severity of the accusations, noting that evidence pointed to New Delhi’s use of criminals in Canada to conduct violent acts against Sikh leaders advocating for an independent state.

The Foreign Minister detailed the threats posed to Canadian citizens, including intimidation, extortion, and death threats linked to the activities of Indian diplomats and agents. “There was definitely a threat and that’s exactly why the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) decided to take the extraordinary measure of making public the fact that Canadians were being intimidated, victims of extortion or even received death threats,” Joly stated during a press conference in Montreal.