India expels Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move: Top developments

Amid allegations and counter allegations levelled by Canada and India, the latter Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.

In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs said that the concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. "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 read.

India expels a senior Canadian Diplomat: https://t.co/TS8LHCUuuY pic.twitter.com/Y0pXq3v1DG

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 19, 2023

Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay reached the headquarters of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at South Block, New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, India rejected as “absurd and motivated” an accusation by Canada that it was involved in the killing of pro-Khalistan leader Nijjar. "Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected,” the MEA statement said.

India also hit out at Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau and other political leaders, saying, “That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern.”

India rejects allegations by Canada:https://t.co/KDzCczWNN2 pic.twitter.com/VSDxbefWLw

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 19, 2023

The United States said that it is “deeply concerned” at the allegations levelled by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday against the Indian government over the assassination of a Sikh activist in Surrey. “We are deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau,” said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, as per the news agency Associated Press.

On Monday, Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat amid investigations into allegations that India’s government might have links to Nijjar's assassination.

Speaking in Canadian Parliament, Trudeau said he brought up Nijjar's murder with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G-20 gathering last week. Trudeau said he had told Modi that any kind of involvement by the Indian government would be unacceptable and asked for cooperation in the investigation.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said if (India's link to Nijjar's murder are) proven true, this would be a violation of Canada's sovereignty. “If proven true this would be a great violation of our sovereignty and of the most basic rule of how countries deal with each other,” Joly said.