India Denies Hand In Death Of Sikh Leader In Canada

Tensions between India and Canada escalated on Tuesday as India dismissed what it called "absurd" allegations of its involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations have further strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. In response to the allegations, Ottawa expelled a diplomat it identified as the head of India's foreign intelligence service in Canada. This move prompted New Delhi to issue a tit-for-tat order, demanding the departure of a Canadian diplomat. Trudeau had made a bombshell statement on Monday, suggesting that "credible allegations" linked Indian agents to the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi had accused Nijjar of carrying out terrorist attacks in India, a charge he denied before his death. India promptly refuted any involvement in the killing, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously "completely rejected" such accusations when privately raised by Trudeau. In a statement, India's foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to the rule of law and described the allegations as "absurd." The slain Sikh leader, Nijjar, had been declared a wanted terrorist by India and was shot dead on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver known for its significant Sikh community. Canada hosts the largest population of Sikhs outside of India, a fact that has long irked New Delhi due to its concerns over Canada's handling of Sikh separatist activists. Nijjar was associated with a movement advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh state, possibly carved out of northern India and part of Pakistan. Trudeau made his allegations public before an emergency parliamentary session, demanding the Indian government's cooperation in resolving the matter. He firmly stated that any foreign government's involvement in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil was an "unacceptable violation" of Canada's sovereignty. Following Canada's expulsion of the local head of India's foreign intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India summoned Canada's High Commissioner and subsequently announced the expulsion of an unnamed senior Canadian diplomat. India expressed concerns about Canadian diplomats' interference in internal matters and their alleged involvement in anti-India activities. Tensions between the two countries had already been simmering over the unsolved killing and Canada's handling of Sikh separatists. The recent accusations have added strain to their diplomatic relations, with experts cautioning about the potential global impact of Trudeau's statements. Canada had also suspended negotiations for a free-trade agreement with India, and the two nations remain at odds over the activities of the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.