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India has reacted angrily aft being told by Canada that its ambassador and different diplomats were named arsenic "persons of interest" successful the execution probe of a Sikh separatist.
The overseas ministry successful Delhi said it received the quality successful a diplomatic connection from Canada connected Sunday, and reserved the close to respond. "The Government of India powerfully rejects these preposterous imputations," it said.
The connection refers to allegations past twelvemonth by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian authorities whitethorn person been down the sidesplitting of a Sikh separatist connected Canadian soil. Delhi has repeatedly rejected the allegation.
The enactment led to a deterioration successful ties, with India asking Canada to retreat dozens of its diplomatic unit and suspending visa services.
On Monday, India's overseas ministry said Canada's allegations were portion of Trudeau's "political agenda" and warned of action, without specifying what it would be.
"India present reserves the close to instrumentality further steps successful effect to these latest efforts of the Canadian Government to concoct allegations against Indian diplomats," it said.
Delhi besides defended its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, referring to his "distinguished vocation spanning 36 years".
"The aspersions formed connected him by the Government of Canada are ludicrous and merit to beryllium treated with contempt," it said.
There was nary contiguous Canadian effect to Delhi's statement. The country's lawman caput of ngo successful Delhi, Stuart Wheeler, was summoned by India's External Affairs Ministry to explicate Canada's move.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was changeable and killed successful June 2023 by 2 masked gunmen extracurricular a Sikh temple helium led successful Surrey, British Columbia.
He had been a vocal protagonist of the Khalistan movement, which demands a abstracted Sikh homeland, and publically campaigned for it.
India has successful the past described him arsenic a violent who led a militant separatist radical - accusations his supporters called unfounded.
Canadian constabulary called his sidesplitting a "targeted attack".
In September 2023, Trudeau had told Canada's parliament that allegations of Indian engagement successful the sidesplitting were based connected Canadian intelligence.
He called the enactment a usurpation of Canada's sovereignty.
India has vehemently denied each allegations and maintained that Canada has provided nary grounds to enactment its claims.
Frosty ties betwixt the 2 countries seemed to person thawed somewhat aft India resumed processing visas successful October 2023.
But past week, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly called the country's relations with India "tense" and "very difficult".
She besides said determination remained a menace of much killings similar Nijjar's connected Canadian soil.
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