India Asks Canada to Reduce Diplomatic Presence Amid Sikh Leader’s Killing Accusations
In a recent development, India has called upon Canada to reduce the number of its diplomats in the country. Out of the 62 Canadian diplomats in India, they’ve been asked to withdraw 41 of them. This move comes as a response to Canadian accusations regarding India’s possible involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader near Vancouver.
The information was shared by an official who wished to remain anonymous, as they weren’t authorized to speak publicly before the Canadian government’s reaction, expected later today. This news aligns with an earlier report published in the Financial Times.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly voiced his concerns, stating that there are “credible allegations” pointing to Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader, fell victim to masked gunmen in June, in Surrey, just outside Vancouver.
For quite some time, India has asserted that Nijjar, a Canadian citizen originally from India, has ties to terrorism. It’s important to note that Nijjar consistently denied these allegations.