India reacted angrily after being informed by Canada that its ambassador and other diplomats had been named “persons of interest” in an investigation in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Delhi said it received the news on Sunday in a diplomatic communication from Canada and reserved the right to respond. “The Indian government strongly rejects these absurd imputations,” he said.
The statement refers to allegations last year by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government may be behind the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Delhi has repeatedly rejected this allegation.
The row led to a deterioration in relations, with India asking Canada to withdraw dozens of its diplomatic staff and suspending visa services.
On Monday, India's foreign ministry said Canada's allegations were part of Trudeau's “political agenda” and warned of action, without specifying what it would be.
“India now reserves the right to take further action in response to these latest efforts by the Canadian government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats,” the statement said.
Delhi also defended its high commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, citing his “distinguished career spanning 36 years”.
“The smears leveled against him by the Government of Canada are ridiculous and deserve to be treated with contempt,” he said.
There was no immediate Canadian response to Delhi's statement.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot and killed in June 2023 by two masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple he led in Surrey, British Columbia.
He was a strong supporter of the Khalistan movement, which demands a separate Sikh homeland, and publicly campaigned in support of this movement.
India has in the past described him as a terrorist leading a militant separatist group – accusations his supporters have called unfounded.
Canadian police called his killing a “targeted attack.”
In September 2023, Trudeau had told the Canadian Parliament that allegations of Indian involvement in the murder were based on Canadian intelligence.
He called this act a violation of Canadian sovereignty.
India vehemently denied all allegations and maintained that Canada had not provided any evidence to support its claims.
Icy ties between the two countries appear to have thawed slightly after India resumed visa processing in October 2023.
But last week, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly described the country's relations with India as “tense” and “very difficult.”
She also said there remained a threat of more killings like Nijjar's on Canadian soil.
