New Delhi: In a swift tit-for-tat move after Canada expelled an Indian diplomat, alleging that ‘agents’ of the Government of India were linked to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan sympathiser, India summoned the High Commissioner of Canada to India Tuesday morning and informed him about its decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India. The diplomat concerned has been asked to leave the country "within the next five days", according to an official statement.
"The decision reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities," the statement reads.
According to the Canadian media, PM Trudeau raised the issue of Nijjar's killing with UK PM Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden.
Earlier, India rejected the allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that New Delhi was involved in the killing of Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader in that country. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the accusations were “absurd and motivated”, and that Ottawa was doing this to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists provided shelter in that country.
"We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, adding: "Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated … We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.”
In a statement in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had on the basis of intelligence reports found a possible "link" between the Indian government and the killing of Nijjar. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois House Leader Alain Therrien, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also made similar remarks at the House of Commons.
"Over the past number of weeks Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between the agents of the Government of India, the killing of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” said Trudeau.
He added" “Canada is a rule of country. The protection of our citizens and defence of our sovereignty are fundamental. Are top priorities have, therefore, been one that our law enforcement and security agencies ensure the continued safety of all Canadians and two that all steps be taken to hold perpetrators of this murder to account.”