The assassination of a Sikh activist in British Columbia in June 2023 sparked a political row between Ottawa and New Delhi that derailed diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event quickly escalated from a local criminal investigation into an international political crisis. Tensions erupted in September 2023 when Canada publicly alleged that agents of the Indian government were involved in the assassination.
What followed was an unprecedented diplomatic standoff: expulsions of senior diplomats, suspended visa services, and a deep freeze in bilateral cooperation. As new investigations and allegations emerged through 2024, the rift widened, reshaping how both nations engaged with each other on security, trade, and diaspora politics. While attempts to repair the political rift in 2025 seemed promising, the investigation into India's role in the murder is still ongoing.
Click through this gallery to explore the key events that drove tensions between India and Canada.