India-Canada diplomatic row reignites: What to know and what comes next

Canada accuses Indian government agents of being involved in ‘serious criminal activity’, a claim India rejects.

A long-simmering diplomatic dispute between India and Canada has reignited, with the two countries announcing the expulsion of diplomats amid accusations that Indian government agents were involved in activities that threaten the safety of Canadians.

The latest row began on Monday when India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had received “diplomatic communication” from Canada indicating that Indian diplomats were being considered “persons of interest” in relation to an investigation in the North American country.

Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa hit new lows last year after the Canadian government said it was investigating a link between Indian government agents and the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, on Canada’s west coast.

New Delhi has denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing, reiterating on Monday that it “strongly” rejected the “preposterous imputations” from Canada and would be withdrawing its diplomats and other officials from the country.

But hours later, the Canadian government said federal police had uncovered evidence that Indian agents were involved in activities that threaten public safety in Canada and it said it was expelling six Indian diplomats.

Here’s what we know about the deepening diplomatic row, what Canada and India have said about the matter, and what could happen next: