**India Appoints Dinesh K Patnaik as High Commissioner to Canada**
The Government of India has designated Dinesh K Patnaik, a seasoned Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1990 batch, as the new High Commissioner to Canada. Currently serving as India’s Ambassador to Spain, Patnaik is set to take on his new role in the near future, as confirmed by a notification from the Ministry of External Affairs.
This appointment comes in the wake of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. In October 2024, India withdrew its envoy to Canada following serious allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who accused New Delhi of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, on Canadian soil. Trudeau’s claims have led to significant strains in the relationship between the two nations.
The situation escalated further when Canada identified Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Saxena and several other diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in the investigation surrounding Nijjar’s murder. In retaliation, India announced the withdrawal of its High Commissioner and other diplomats from Canada, subsequently expelling six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler and Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert.
The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the actions of the Trudeau government, in an environment marked by extremism and violence, posed risks to the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada. As Dinesh K Patnaik prepares to assume his new responsibilities, the diplomatic landscape remains tense, with both nations navigating the complexities of their bilateral relations.
**FAQ**
*What prompted India’s withdrawal of its envoy to Canada?*
India’s withdrawal of its envoy was prompted by allegations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who claimed that India was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leading to increased diplomatic tensions.
