Relations between Delhi and Ottawa have been strained since Trudeau said Canada had credible evidence linking Indian agents to Nizar’s murder.
India has accused Prime Minister Trudeau of pandering to Canada’s large Sikh community for political gain.
Relations soured after India asked Canada to withdraw dozens of diplomatic staff and suspend visa services.
On Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in an angry statement that Canada’s claims were influenced by Sikh separatist activists and warned of action against them.
Later that day, it was announced that six Canadian diplomats, including Acting High Commissioner Stuart Ross Wheeler, had been asked to leave India by October 19.
Mr. Wheeler was also summoned by India’s Ministry of External Affairs to explain Canada’s moves.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Prime Minister Wheeler said Canada had provided evidence requested by India and must now investigate the allegations.
“It is in the interest of our country and our people to get to the bottom of this matter,” he said.
Delhi was defended by High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, citing his “distinguished career of 36 years”.
“The insults hurled at him by the Canadian government are outrageous and deserve to be treated with contempt,” he said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also announced that it was ‘withdrawing’ its envoy and other diplomats.
“We do not trust the Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring our security. Therefore, the Indian government has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials.”
On Monday, Canadian police said they had taken the unusual step of releasing information about the ongoing investigation “due to the serious threat to public safety in our country.”
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhem said at a news conference Monday that there had been “more than a dozen credible and imminent threats to life” focused “particularly” on the pro-Khalistan movement.
He added that the threat was serious enough to warrant public intervention from the RCMP.
“We have reached a point where we believe it is essential to stand up to the Indian government.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot and killed by two masked gunmen outside his Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.
He was an ardent supporter of the Khalistan movement demanding a separate Sikh homeland and campaigned openly for it.
India has previously described him as a terrorist leading a separatist armed group. His supporters made baseless accusations.
Canadian police called his killing a ‘targeted attack.’
In September 2023, Trudeau told Canada’s parliament that claims of Indian involvement in the killings were based on Canadian intelligence.
He said the act was a violation of Canada’s sovereignty.
India has strongly denied all the claims and claimed Canada has not provided any evidence to support its claims.
The frozen relationship between the two countries appeared to have thawed slightly after India resumed visa processing in October 2023.
But last week, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said Canada’s relationship with India was “tense” and “very difficult.”
She also said more murder threats like Nijjar remain on Canadian soil.
