Canada expels Indian diplomat over killing of Sikh leader, foreign minister says

Canada on Monday expelled an Indian diplomat believed to have a credible link to the murder of an exiled Sikh leader in western Canada, the country’s foreign minister said.

“Allegations that a representative of a foreign government may have been involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen here in Canada, on Canadian soil … are totally unacceptable,” said Melanie Joly.

“Therefore, today we have expelled a senior Indian diplomat from Canada,” Joly added, without naming the diplomat.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed earlier on Monday that Canada is investigating “credible allegations” that Indian agents may have had a role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in June near Vancouver.

“The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said.

He called “in the strongest possible terms” on the Indian government to cooperate in clearing up the matter.

Nijjar, whom India had declared a wanted terrorist, was gunned down on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver that is home to one of the largest Sikh populations in Canada.

Tensions between India and Canada have been simmering over the unsolved killing, and Indian unhappiness over how Ottawa has handled right-wing Sikh separatists.

New Delhi accuses Ottawa of turning a blind eye to the activities of radical Sikh nationalists who seek a separate Sikh homeland in northern India.

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Trudeau later told media that Canada would always defend “freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and freedom of peaceful protest” while acting against hatred.