Ottawa/IBNS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reiterated his charge against Indian diplomats whom the country has accused of playing a role behind the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, escalating bilateral tension.

In an address, Trudeau on Monday said, "I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil. Whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable."

"We shared our concerns with the Government of India and asked them to work with us..."

The Canadian Prime Minister said India has refused to cooperate.

"That is why... this weekend... Canadian officials took an extraordinary step. They met with Indian officials to share RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) evidence, which concluded six agents of the Government of India are 'persons of interest' in criminal activities. And despite repeated requests to the Government of India, they have decided not to co-operate..."

India and Canada engage in retaliatory diplomatic expulsions

India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats and asked them to leave the country by Saturday after Ottawa said it was investigating the Indian ambassador and other diplomats as "persons of interest" in connection with the killing of a Sikh separatist leader last year, official sources said.

In a tit-for-tat move, Canada too asked six Indian diplomats to leave the country alleging that its police reportedly got hold of evidence that they claimed to be a part of an Indian government "campaign of violence".

On Monday evening, the Indian government decided to withdraw its High Commissioner in Canada after Ottawa's fresh accusations against the Indian envoy and other diplomats in connection with a murder investigation which the Modi government called an act of "vote bank politics".

"We have no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security," the government conveyed to the Canadian Charge d'Affaires, who it summoned this evening.

"It was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government's actions endangered their safety. We have no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials," the foreign ministry said.

India responded sharply after Canada called the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats "persons of interest" in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In a long statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We have received a diplomatic communication from Canada yesterday suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are ‘persons of interest’ in a matter related to an investigation in that country. The Government of India strongly rejects these preposterous imputations and ascribes them to the political agenda of the Trudeau Government that is centered around vote bank politics.

"Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side. This latest step follows interactions that have again witnessed assertions without any facts. This leaves little doubt that on the pretext of an investigation, there is a deliberate strategy of smearing India for political gains."