India has rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and who said in the Canadian Parliament that India may be involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada-based Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief and one of India’s most-wanted terrorists. India said that the allegations were “absurd and motivated”.

Following Trudeau’s statement, Canada has expelled a senior Indian diplomat. In retaliation India today summoned the High Commissioner of Canada to India and “informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India. The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

MEA also said that the expulsion of the diplomat “reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.”

India had earlier slammed Canada for “openly” sympathizing with and for providing shelter to Khalistani terrorists and extremists who are threats to India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We reject any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments,” MEA stated and urged the “Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil.”

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in the north American country in June this year. Nijar was one of the most-wanted terrorists in India for his alleged involvement in terror activities in the country. In July last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on information leading to Nijjar’s arrest in connection with an attack on a Hindu priest in Jalandhar in 2021.

Read more: Wanted in India, Khalistan Tiger Force chief shot dead in Canada