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Ministry of External Affairs rejects ‘preposterous imputations’ made by Canada

India said it was told by Canadian authorities that its top diplomat in Ottawa is a “person of interest” in an investigation involving the murder of a Sikh activist last year, further straining ties between the two governments.

India on Monday decided to withdraw its high commissioner and other 'targeted' diplomats and officials from Canada in response to Ottawa's attempt to link them to a probe into the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The MEA on Monday also detailed Canadian PM Trudeau's "hostility to India" which it said has long been in evidence

Tensions between India and Canada deepened further as Canada announced an investigation into the Indian High Commissioner, terming him as a 'person of interest' in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canada has expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner.

India withdraws diplomats from Canada after being labeled as "persons of interest" in pro-Khalistan activist murder case.

India has ordered the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats and withdrew its own envoy from Canada, in response to what it said was Canada's decision to name him and others as "persons of interest" in an investigation.

Canadian officials said the Indian government was involved in criminal activity, including homicide and extortion, to intimidate Sikh separatists. India, in return,kicked out Canadian diplomats.

India has withdrawn its High Commissioner and diplomats from Canada after Canada’s foreign ministry said their main aim is to hold Indian officials ‘accountable’ in the investigation into Nijjar’s killing. 

Stewart Wheeler, Canada's Deputy High Commissioner to India, was summoned by New Delhi after Canada named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a 'person of interest' in its investigation into Hardeep Nijjar's killing.

MEA noted that Trudeau's hostility has long been in evidence

India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country. | OpIndia News

India has asked Canadian diplomats in New Delhi to leave the country by Saturday after Ottawa said it was investigating its Indian ambassador and other diplomats as "persons of interest", after the killing last year of a Sikh separatist leader.

India has expelled six Canadian diplomats from the country, including Canada’s acting high commissioner.

India said it was going to recall its ambassador from Canada after Ottawa said he and other top Indian diplomats were "persons of interest" in an investigation into the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The government statement said that the six Canadian diplomats have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday (October 19). 

OTTAWA - India announced it will withdraw its High Commissioner from Canada after receiving official word that he is a person of interest in a Canadian violent criminal investigation.

Move comes after Canada said it wanted to question top diplomat in Sikh probe

Canada accuses agents of the Indian government of involvement in "homicides, extortion and and violent acts".

The relations between the two countries came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Indian-origin Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it received a diplomatic communication on Sunday suggesting that Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and other diplomats are 'persons of interest' in an investigation there. The MEA rejected the latest charges as 'preposterous implications'.

“We have no faith in the current Canadian government's commitment to ensure their security,” says New Delhi's foreign ministry.