On Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ‘agents of India’ accusation, US says this
Tension between India and Canada: India has dismissed the allegations as “absurd and motivated.”
New Delhi:
Shortly after the Canadian Prime Minister accused India of being behind the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the United States said it was “deeply concerned” by the allegations.
“The United States is deeply concerned by the allegations revealed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in an emailed statement.
“It is essential that Canada’s investigation continues and that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Watson said.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government has “credible allegations” linking the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar to “agents of the Indian government.”
India has rejected the allegations, calling them “absurd and motivated.”
“Such unsubstantiated allegations” are aimed at diverting attention from Khalistan terrorists and extremists, who have found “shelter in Canada and continue to threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” the Ministry of Affairs said foreigners in a press release.
India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat today, in reciprocity, after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat.
“The Canadian High Commissioner to India was summoned today and informed of the Indian government’s decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India,” the ministry said.
The Canadian diplomat, who remains anonymous, was asked to leave the country in five days.
Nijjar, based in Canada, has been designated a “terrorist” by India. He was shot dead by unknown assailants near a gurdwara in Surrey in June.
This new feud has plunged relations between Ottawa and New Delhi, already difficult, to a new low.
Tensions between the two countries escalated further earlier this month during the G20 summit in Delhi, which Mr. Trudeau attended.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed “grave concerns over continued anti-India activities by extremist elements in Canada” during a meeting with his Canadian counterpart.
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