Kochi: In a further deterioration of ties, India and Ottawa expelled their top envoys over assassination of a Sikh separatist in Canada which accused New Delhi’s direct involvement in the crime, media reports said.
Ottawa took the decision based on Canadian police allegations that Indian agents were directly involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, the reports said.
India rejected the allegations and accused Canada of appeasing Sikh community for political gain.
Canadian Premier Trudeau said India had made a “fundamental error” in supporting “criminal” acts in Canada.
“The evidence … cannot be ignored,” he said on TV.
India maintained that Canada has not provided evidence to support its claims,
India has in the past described Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a terrorist who led a militant separatist group.
Canadian police called his killing a “targeted attack”. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly described her country’s relations with India “tense” and “very difficult”.
She also said there remained a threat of more killings like Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside India.
Photo Credit: Facebook
