India expels Canadian diplomat after rejecting allegations of its role in Sikh leader’s death

India on Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Ottawa alleged New Delhi’s involvement in a Sikh leader’s death on its soil. The diplomat has been asked to leave within five days, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a 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 noted.

India expels a senior Canadian Diplomat: https://t.co/TS8LHCUuuY pic.twitter.com/Y0pXq3v1DG— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 19, 2023

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had told the country’s Parliament that security agencies “have been pursuing credible allegations about the potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen” who supported the creation of a separate state for Sikhs.

His comments pertained to Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force. He had been shot dead in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surrey near Vancouver on June 18.

Following Trudeau’s address in Parliament, Ottawa expelled Pavan Kumar Rai, the head of the Research and Analysis Wing in Canada.

New Delhi rejected the claims on Tuesday, calling them “absurd and motivated”.

“Similar allegations were made by the Canadian prime minister to our prime minister, and were completely rejected,” the Ministry of External Affairs said...

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