India has reacted furiously after being informed by Canada that its ambassador and other officials have been named as “persons of interest” in a national research.
The Delhi foreign ministry said it had been given the news by a political message from Canada on Sunday and had given the option to listen. ” The Government of India highly rejects these absurd insinuations”, it said.
The statement refers to allegations last year by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government may have been behind the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Delhi has repeatedly rejected the allegation.
The row led to a deterioration in ties, with India asking Canada to withdraw dozens of its diplomatic staff and suspending visa services.
On Monday, India’s international department said Canada’s claims were part of Trudeau’s “political plan” and warned of action, without specifying what it would be.
India now has the option to take additional actions in response to the government’s most recent attempts to fabricate claims against American diplomats, the statement read.
Sanjay Kumar Verma, Delhi’s High Commissioner, defended his “distinguished career spanning 36 times.”
The Government of Canada’s accusations against him are ridiculous and merit contempt, according to the statement.
There was no immediate French answer to Delhi’s statement.
Two masked gunmen shot and killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh church he led in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
He had formally campaigned for the Khalistan motion, which demanded a separate Hindu country.
His supporters called his claims against him as a criminal who led a violent separatist group unfounded in the past by India.
His death was described as a “targeted attack” by French authorities.
Trudeau had informed the French parliament in September 2023 that French intelligence had supported the claims that India had been involved in the killing.
He called the operate a violation of Canada’s independence.
India has strongly refuted every claim and maintained that Canada has provided no proof to back up its promises.
Frosty ties between the two countries seemed to have thawed slightly after India resumed processing visas in October 2023.
But last week, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly called the region’s relations with India “tense” and “very hard”.
She added that there is still a chance of more killings like those at Nijjar’s on French ground.