Last Updated: September 19, 2023, 20:10 IST
Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. (File photo: Reuters)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said ‘foreign powers’ were behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting its agents were linked to the murder of a Sikh Khalistani terrorist but Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday.
“The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate,” the Canadian prime minister told reporters, a Reuters report mentioned.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s Claims
Trudeau, on Monday, made allegations regarding the Indian government’s hand being behind the June 2023 killing of the Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was shot outside a Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.
India Reacts to Canadian Prime minister Allegations
India rejected allegations by Canada calling them “motivated” and “absurd”.
“We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of the Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected,” the external affairs ministry said in a press release.
Canada Expels Indian Diplomat
Canada further expelled a senior Indian diplomat hours after Trudeau made the allegations. Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly told Canadian media outlets that her government has expelled a senior Indian diplomat over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India Expels Canadian Diplomat
In a retaliatory move, India on Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments and Indian diplomat being removed from Canada. In a video, the Canadian High Commissioner was seen storming out of the Ministry of External Affairs Headquarters.
