Relations between countries continue to fracture over alleged assassination of Sikh separatist in British Columbia
, the Indian foreign ministry has given Canada a week to repatriate two-thirds of its diplomats stationed in India, reducing the number to 21. India’s Ministry of External Affairs declined comment. An official familiar with the matter confirmed the report to the Associated Press.” that Indian government agents were involved in the assassination of the Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June.
“We’re taking this extremely seriously, but we’re going to continue to engage responsibly and constructively within with the Government ofNijjar had been designated a terrorist by the Indian authorities, who accused him of involvement in militant groups and extremist activity, charges he had denied.Trudeau had called on India to cooperate with the investigation into the killing but India dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and politically motivated.
The Indian and Canadian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reports that Canadian diplomats had been told to leave.