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India, on Tuesday, rejected Canada’s allegations linking the Indian government with the assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat a day after that country expelled an Indian diplomat.
“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
Canada expelled an Indian diplomat after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau mentioned in his speech in Parliament on Monday that there were “credible allegations” of the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of a prominent Sikh activist and Canadian citizen.
“Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said, adding that all necessary steps would be taken to hold perpetrators of the murder to account.
India, in its statement, said similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, and had been completely rejected.
New Delhi, in turn, alleged that Canada has been giving space to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime.
It asked Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating on its soil.
“We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law. Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern,” the MEA statement noted.
India has been deeply concerned about Canadian political figures openly expressing their sympathy for “such elements”, it said.
On its decision to expel a Canadian diplomat, MEA stated that it reflected the government’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in its internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.
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