In response to Canada's expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat blaming India for the murder of Indian Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India announced the expulsion of a senior Canadian diplomat.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in parliament recently, said there were "credible allegations" of Indian involvement in the June murder of Indian-born Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joy announced the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat from Canada today, saying, "Allegations that a representative of a foreign government may have been involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen here in Canada, on Canadian soil, are not only disturbing, they are absolutely unacceptable.
If proven true, it would be a grave violation of our sovereignty and the most fundamental rule of engagement between countries. We have made it clear that we will not tolerate any form of foreign interference."
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in turn, issued the following statement today;
"The Canadian High Commissioner to India was summoned today and informed of the Government of India's decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat in India. The diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. The decision reflects the Government of India's growing concern about Canadian diplomats' interference in our internal affairs and involvement in anti-India activities."
MURDER OF HARDEEP SINGH NIJJAR
Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45) settled in Canada in 1997 as one of the leaders of a separatist Sikh group in India. Nijjar and his supporters demanded the creation of a separate Khalistani state, while India blamed Nijjar for a number of assassinations in the country, stating that he was a terrorist. After Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in his car in Canada on June 18, tensions between his supporters and the Indian government rose and led to protests in Canada.
The crisis between India and Canada grows
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