India has expressed strong disapproval of Canada's recent diplomatic assertions implicating Indian diplomats in the murder investigation of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a diplomatic communication from Canada indicating their ambassaf or and other officials as "persons of interest" in the case, sparking a sharp rebuke from Delhi.
In a statement, India criticized the accusations, labeling them as baseless and preposterous, and hinted at the possibility of retaliatory measures. This escalates the diplomatic rift that began after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's assertion that India might have played a role in Nijjar's assassination. India has consistently denied these claims.
The tensions saw India push for the reduction of Canadian diplomatic presence in the country and a temporary suspension of visa services. On Monday, India's foreign ministry called the allegations a product of Trudeau's "political agenda" and reaffirmed the distinguished reputation of its High Commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Verma, whose integrity Canada has challenged.
The strained relationship seemed to ease a bit when India resumed visa processing in October 2023, but recent comments from Canadian officials, labeling the bilateral relationship as "tense", illustrate ongoing friction. Nijjar, supporting a separatist cause deemed terrorist by India, was killed outside a temple in British Columbia in June 2023. His murder, identified as a "targeted attack" by Canadian authorities, has been at the heart of this international dispute. Despite Canadian intelligence-based claims, India maintains there's no substantive evidence linking them to the incident.
In a statement, India criticized the accusations, labeling them as baseless and preposterous, and hinted at the possibility of retaliatory measures. This escalates the diplomatic rift that began after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's assertion that India might have played a role in Nijjar's assassination. India has consistently denied these claims.
The tensions saw India push for the reduction of Canadian diplomatic presence in the country and a temporary suspension of visa services. On Monday, India's foreign ministry called the allegations a product of Trudeau's "political agenda" and reaffirmed the distinguished reputation of its High Commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Verma, whose integrity Canada has challenged.
The strained relationship seemed to ease a bit when India resumed visa processing in October 2023, but recent comments from Canadian officials, labeling the bilateral relationship as "tense", illustrate ongoing friction. Nijjar, supporting a separatist cause deemed terrorist by India, was killed outside a temple in British Columbia in June 2023. His murder, identified as a "targeted attack" by Canadian authorities, has been at the heart of this international dispute. Despite Canadian intelligence-based claims, India maintains there's no substantive evidence linking them to the incident.
