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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.

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

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

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.

India has withdrawn its High Commissioner and diplomats from Canada after Canada’s foreign ministry said their main aim is to hold Indian officials ‘accountable’ in the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

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

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

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

The move by the Indian government comes as the two countries have been locked in a dispute following the assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada last year.

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.

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.

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.

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

India said its diplomats were named as "persons of interest" in a criminal investigation in Canada.

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

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'.

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).