India-Canada Diplomatic Row: In the wake of a controversy that erupted over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that India was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, the central government took several significant counter acts including reducing Canada's diplomatic representation in India.
ALSO READ: 'India Is My Country Too': Punjabi-Canadian Rapper Shubh Amid Backlash Over His Social Media Post
Here Are Key Points On This Big Story
- Tensions between India and Canada erupted early this week following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive accusations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorists on June 18 in British Columbia. In response, India angrily rejected the allegations levelled by Trudeau while calling them "absurd" and "motivated".
- On Thursday, Canada's PM reaffirmed that his country stands by the international rules-based order and repeated his charge on India's role in the killing of the Khalistani leader stating that there are "credible reasons" to believe the same.
Justin Trudeau runs away after Indian journalist asks him questions on diplomatic turmoil with India (Image: Reuters)
- "There are credible reasons to believe that agents of the government of India were involved in the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil. That is ...there is something of utmost foundational importance in a country's rule of law in a world where international rules-based order matters...we have rigorous and independent judges and robust processes...," Trudeau said as quoted by news agency ANI.
Recommended For You
- Amid serious charges levelled by Canada over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist, India on Thursday suspended Indian visa services 'till further notice'. This came just a day after the Indian government issued an advisory asking all its citizens living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes in the North American country.
- In a tit-for-tat move on Tuesday, a senior Canadian diplomat has been ordered to leave India within five days hours after Ottawa expelled an Indian diplomat in an escalating rift over the killing of a Sikh separatist earlier this year.
- Since then the relationships between the two nations, which were historically based on trade and the existence of a sizable Indian diaspora in the country, have increasingly deteriorated.
- The diplomatic row between the two nations has also hampered the trade deal as well. The deepening rift between India and Canada could possibly hamper Canadian farmers and Indian pharmaceutical and software companies as both countries exchange exports in several areas.
(With Inputs From Agencies)