India-Canada news updates: India's relations with Canada have reached an all-time low after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India's involvement in killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June, a claim which was rejected by New Delhi terming it ‘absurd and motivated’. Following Trudeau's allegations, Canadian foreign minister had expelled a senior Indian diplomat from the country, which further compelled New Delhi to boot out a Canadian top official with a condition to leave India in five days.

Follow all the updates here:

• Sep 20, 2023 07:17 PM IST

  Canada's Deputy Army Chief scheduled to visit India next week to attend military conclave

  The latest diplomatic row between India and Canada is not going to impact the bilateral military engagement and the Canadian Army will take part at a defence conclave in Delhi next week, senior military officials from both the sides said on Wednesday.

  The Indian Army is hosting the conclave of Indo-Pacific army chiefs on September 26 and 27 to evolve a common strategy to ensure peace and stability in the region.

  Fifteen Army chiefs and delegations from 22 countries are attending the event, officials said.

  Canada's Deputy Army Chief Major General Peter Scott is scheduled to attend the Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs' Conference (IPACC).

• Sep 20, 2023 07:04 PM IST

  Sikh separatism has long strained Canada-India ties. Now they're at their lowest point in years

  Relations between Canada and India have sunk to their lowest point in years as the two countries swap accusations and expel each other's diplomats over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader.

  Experts said it remains to be seen if it will create a lasting rift between the two U.S. allies, but it's nonetheless an awkward situation for Western countries seeking to woo New Delhi as a counterweight to China and win India’s cooperation on the Ukraine war.

  Five years ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau captured headlines in India for enthusiastically embracing the country's culture during a weeklong trip with his family. He donned a series of colorful, glittering traditional Indian suits, visited monuments and even received Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature bear hug — a sign that their relationship was on the up.

• Sep 20, 2023 05:38 PM IST

  Shashi Tharoor on India-Canada diplomatic tensions row

  Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "We are seeing a tit for tat on both sides. First, on the expulsion of a diplomat and then on this advisory...I think it is unfortunate that Canada chose such a public route. If at all they have any issue, these matters should be discussed privately with a friendly govt like India and the matter should be discussed behind closed doors. Going public, making a statement in the Parliament was very unfortunate by the Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) and having gone that far they (Canada) have really jeopardised the state of a very good relationship..."

• Sep 20, 2023 04:43 PM IST

  India asks citizens to be careful if traveling to Canada as rift escalates over Sikh leader’s death

  India on Wednesday advised its citizens to be careful when traveling to Canada as a rift between the two nations escalates further in the wake of Ottawa’s allegations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.

  The foreign ministry in New Delhi issued an updated travel advisory, urging its nationals and especially those studying in the North American country to be cautious because of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes.”

  Indians should also avoid going to venues in Canada where “threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose anti-India agenda,” the ministry said.

  Ottawa and New Delhi, two key strategic partners on security and trade, are locked in a diplomatic rift after Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, alleged that India was connected to the assassination of Sikh independence advocate on its soil in June.

• Sep 20, 2023 04:27 PM IST

  BookMyShow cancels Punjabi-Canadian singer Shubh's show, to refund tickets

  BookMyShow on Wednesday cancelled Punjabi- Canadian singer Shubhneet Singh's India tour after the ticket booking app faced a boycott call on social media for hosting a singer who is allegedly a Khalistani sympathiser.

  In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, BookMyShow said it will do a complete refund of the tickets within 7-10 days.

  "Singer Shubhneet Singh's Still Rollin Tour for India stands cancelled. To that end, BookMyShow has initiated a complete refund of the ticket amount for all consumers who had purchased tickets for the show. The refund will be reflected within 7-10 working days in the customer's source account of the original transaction," it said.

• Sep 20, 2023 04:17 PM IST

  Diplomatic row with Canada will not impact military engagement: Army official

  The latest diplomatic row between India and Canada will not impact bilateral military engagement and the Canadian Army will take part in the conclave of the Indo-Pacific army chiefs in Delhi next week, a senior Indian Army official said on Wednesday.

  The Indian Army is hosting the conclave on September 26 and 27 with an aim to evolve a common strategy to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of growing global concerns over China's increasing military muscle-flexing in the region.

  The diplomatic ties between India and Canada came under further strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

• Sep 20, 2023 03:35 PM IST

  Indian World Forum issues press statement on India-Canada tensions

  Indian World Forum issues press statement, "Indian World Forum strongly condemns the disgruntled activities by unlawful organizations including Sikhs for Justice for stalking and purporting violence on the Indian diaspora in Canada...Indian World Forum urges the Government of Canada to consider and act seriously on nefarious elements including Arshdeep Singh Dhalla and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (both designated terrorist by India) from using its soil against mankind and heinous activities. Any attempt to cause danger to the Indian diaspora and their investments in Canada will violate the sanctity of UN Charter and its conventions. In India we warmly host our Canadian brethren and our culture ensures well-being of Canadian Diaspora in India."

• Sep 20, 2023 03:27 PM IST

  "Won't talk about security briefings as part of Five Eyes": Anthony Albanese on Canada's allegations

  Amid the India-Canada diplomatic standoff, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Canberra doesn’t talk about security briefings as part of the Five Eyes group.

  The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US and the UK.

  On being asked if the Australian government has received a security briefing about the alleged assassination, PM Albanese said, “We don't talk about security briefings from Five Eyes (intelligence alliance), as part of the Five Eyes group."

  He further said that he has had discussions with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, but would like to keep those discussions ‘confidential’.

  "...Well, I do have discussions with Prime Minister Trudeau but one of the things that I do, unlike my predecessor, I don't send out text messages, I keep those discussions confidential. Justin Trudeau is a friend of mine, he's a fine Prime Minister of Canada. I was pleased to engage with him at the G20 (Summit),” the Australian PM said.

• Sep 20, 2023 03:19 PM IST

  MEA advises Indian nationals to avoid travelling to regions in Canada that witnessed anti-India activities

  MEA advises Indian nationals to avoid travelling to regions in Canada that witnessed anti-India activities.

• Sep 20, 2023 03:17 PM IST

  MEA advisory to Indian nationals, students in Canada

  Given deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular advised to exercise extreme caution, remain vigilant: MEA

• Sep 20, 2023 03:01 PM IST

  Justin Trudeau triggers divide in Canada's Indian diaspora without evidence

  By making unsubstantiated allegations against India for June 19 targeted killing of proscribed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in British Columbia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has weaponized the radical Sikhs against their parent country and polarized the Indian diaspora in Canada for political motives. Read more

• Sep 20, 2023 02:59 PM IST

  Indian advisory for nationals in Canada

  A day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar triggered a diplomatic row, India advised its citizens in Canada to exercise “utmost caution” due to growing anti-India activities and hate crimes.

  Trudeau’s claim of a “potential link” between Indian government agents and the murder of Nijjar in June was dismissed by India as “absurd and motivated”. The allegation impacted bilateral ties that are already at an all-time low.

  In an advisory aimed at Indian nationals and students in Canada and citizens planning to travel to the country, the external affairs ministry said there were also threats against members of the Indian community who “oppose the anti-India agenda”.

• Sep 20, 2023 02:56 PM IST

  India issues advisory for Indian nationals, students in Canada: Exercise utmost concern

  India issues advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada

  ​"In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution.… pic.twitter.com/G6cmhSuGfb

  — ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2023

• Sep 20, 2023 02:38 PM IST

  Australian PM Anthony Albanese on India-Canada tensions

  #WATCH | Australian PM Anthony Albanese says, "...Well, I do have discussions with Prime Minister Trudeau but one of the things that I do, unlike my predecessor, I don't send out text messages, I keep those discussions confidential. Justin Trudeau is a friend of mine, he's a fine… pic.twitter.com/Gbxjwr7DaX

  — ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2023

• Sep 20, 2023 02:26 PM IST

  'Concerning': British Sikh MPs on Canada allegations against India

  British Sikh members of Parliament Preet Kaur Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi have reacted to “concerning" reports emanating from Canada, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in the country.

  The Opposition Labour MPs, who represent heavily Sikh constituencies in England, took to social media on Tuesday to claim they had been contacted by their constituents about allegations by Trudeau in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force.

  They said they are raising their concerns directly with the government ministers.

  “PM Trudeau's statement on Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder is deeply concerning,” tweeted Gill, who is the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston in the West Midlands region of England.

• Sep 20, 2023 02:11 PM IST

  Congress backs government's stand after Canada's allegation

  India's main opposition Congress party backed on Wednesday the government's rejection of Canada's suspicions that New Delhi's agents had links to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, and urged a stand against threats to the country's sovereignty.

  India quickly dismissed Canada's assertion as absurd in a row that is worsening already poor relations between the two members of the G20 grouping, as each expelled one of the other's diplomats.

  The dispute followed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's remarks that Canadian intelligence agencies were actively pursuing "credible allegations" tying Indian agents to the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, in British Columbia.

  On Wednesday, the Indian foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment but a government source said New Delhi had nothing new to add.

  Congress spokespersons backed what they called India's "fight against terrorism" and criticised Trudeau.

  "Trudeau's defence of declared terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar is absolutely shameful and shows how much the present Canadian regime is in bed with Khalistani sympathisers," Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior Congress lawmaker, posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

  Khalistan is the name of an independent Sikh state whose creation was the goal of a bloody Sikh insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s in India's northern state of Punjab during which tens of thousands were killed.

  As the ruling party at the time, Congress led the fight against the separatists and eventually suppressed the campaign, but New Delhi remains wary of any revival.

  "Our country's interests and concerns must be kept paramount at all times," Jairam Ramesh, the chief spokesperson of Congress, said in a posting on X.

  "The Indian National Congress has always believed that our country's fight against terrorism has to be uncompromising, especially when terrorism threatens India's sovereignty, unity and integrity."

  The insurgency also took the lives of key Congress leaders Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984, and Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was killed in a bomb blast by Sikh separatists in 1995.

  "FRANK CONVERSATION"

  Canadian officials have so far declined to say why they believe India could be linked to Nijjar's murder.

  Although there is hardly any support for the insurgency left in India, small groups of Sikhs in Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States support the separatist demand and occasionally stage protests outside its embassies.

  New Delhi, which urged Ottawa to act against anti-Indian elements, has long been unhappy over Sikh separatist activity in Canada.

  It was strange that Trudeau had announced the expulsion of an Indian diplomat in parliament, said A.S. Dulat, a former chief of India's external spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing.

  "We don’t do these things," the Economic Times newspaper quoted Dulat as telling the Press Trust of India news agency. "We do not go around assassinating people, let me make this very clear."

  Canada has the largest population of Sikhs outside the Indian state of Punjab, with about 770,000 people reporting Sikhism as their religion in the 2021 census.

  India has been particularly sensitive to Sikh protesters in Canada with some Indian analysts saying Ottawa does not stop them as Sikhs are a politically influential group there.

  "Trudeau appears to be engaging in toxic domestic politics by playing to the extremist fringe of the Sikh diaspora," the Indian Express newspaper said in an editorial, calling for the dispute to be resolved.

  "The first step towards detente is to pause the current escalation and get the national security advisers from both sides to have a frank conversation," it added.

• Sep 20, 2023 01:39 PM IST

  Former RAW chief dismisses Trudeau's allegations, terms it ‘absurd, illogical’

  Vikram Sood, the former head of India's Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), has termed Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s allegations regarding the Indian government’s involvement in the shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada as a “claim without evidence”. 

  Trudeau claimed that his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

  “He's made a claim without evidence, and having made the claim, he's taken an action, i.e. to expel the Indian diplomat. Now, he wants us to cooperate with him. What is he saying? The whole thing sounds very absurd and illogical to me.” said Sood, former chief of India's foreign intelligence agency.

• Sep 20, 2023 01:16 PM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE: Experts call for ‘proactive’ steps by US on Khalistan activism

  Commenting on the diplomatic spat, several experts have said that the US should take "proactive" steps on dealing with the Khalistan activism in the US and that Washington hasn't come out and affirmed what Trudeau was hinting at.

  Jesse Singh, founder and chairman of the community group, Sikhs of America, told an event hosted by Washington’s Hudson Institute think tank that Trudeau has failed to provide any proof.

  "It's just something that he said is a ‘credible allegation,’ with no proof at all. And I think we'll have to wait to see if there is any proof there and then I think further decisions can be taken," Singh added.

• Sep 20, 2023 01:09 PM IST

  Indian Army says tensions in India-Canada relations ‘don’t impact us'

  The Indian Army on Wednesday said tensions in India-Canada relations “don't impact us” and that India’s “diplomatic approach, military records with Canada continue”.

  While addressing the curtain raiser event on the scheduled Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs conference, Indian Army’s Additional Director General (Strategic Planning) Major General Abhinaya Rai said Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General Wayne Eyre will be visiting India for the Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference to be held at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment from September 26-27.

  The conference that is being held to ascertain multilateral security partnerships in the region, takes place regularly to thrash out differences, build trust and better communication among professional armies for a free and open Indo-Pacific. (ANI)

• Sep 20, 2023 01:05 PM IST

  What happened when NSA Ajit Doval talked to his Canadian counterpart in G20

  1.  During the G-20 summit, the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval engaged his Australian, UK and Canadian counterparts over the rise of Sikh fundamentalism and violence against Indian assets in their respective countries.
  2.  It is understood that the Australian NSA and the UK NSA reacted positively to Indian concerns but the Canadian NSA was unfazed as the New Democratic party of Khalistan supporter Jagmeet Singh supports the minority Justin Trudeau government.
  3.   It was quite evident from the NSA level meetings that the Canadian government was under pressure from Khalistan supporters and would do little to help the Indian cause.
  4.  This was despite the fact that Khalistan supporters with the help of US based Sikhs For Justice, proscribed under UAPA, were openly threatening to assassinate Indian top diplomats posted in Canada with photographs of the Indian Ambassador and two Consul Generals splashed on posters and a reward on their heads.
  5.  Instead of taking on the Khalistan radicals, drug runners and gangsters from Punjab taking shelter in Canada either under fake Portuguese passports or cooking up stories of political discrimination of Sikhs in India, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday came out openly in support of the radicals by blaming unidentified Indian agents for being involved in the killing of terrorist Nijjar outside a radical place of worship in Surrey, Vancouver. Read more

• Sep 20, 2023 12:14 PM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: After posing allegations, Trudeau says ‘not looking to provoke…’

  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his statement on the possible involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar was not meant to “escalate” tensions with New Delhi.

  “We are not looking to provoke or escalate. We are simply laying out the facts as we understand them,” he said in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, according to public broadcaster CBC.

  “The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that,” Trudeau said, a day after his speech in the House of Commons that was followed by Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian diplomat.

• Sep 20, 2023 11:58 AM IST

  Expelled Canadian official once headed country's intel in India

  The senior Canadian diplomat who was ordered to leave India, hours after Ottawa expelled an Indian diplomat, is the head of Canadian intelligence in India, said people familiar with the matter.

  The office of Canada foreign minister Mélanie Joly, who announced the expulsion of a “top Indian diplomat”, had identified the official as Pavan Kumar Rai, head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Canada, according to public broadcaster CBC.

  India responded in kind and expelled Olivier Sylvestere, who is the Canadian intelligence agency station chief in India, said the persons cited above, who asked not to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the media. Sylvestere was operating in India under official cover, said one of the persons. He must leave India within five days.

• Sep 20, 2023 11:38 AM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: India's most wanted terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in June. check out cases against him

  Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 46, a Canadian citizen, was one of the most wanted terrorists in India before two unknown assailants killed him outside a gurudwara in British Columbia’s Surrey. A key functionary in the Khalistani network, Nijjar was declared an “individual terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in July 2020. He was accused of involvement in multiple cases of targeted killings in Punjab and funding secessionist activities. Nijjar was also blamed for instigating anti-India activities and being in touch with Pakistani agents.

  1.  Nijjar was associated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) before joining Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and becoming its head.
  2.  Nijjar organised demonstrations outside Indian missions in the US, the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, etc under the banner of banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) along with other pro-Khalistan leaders such as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Paramjit Singh Pamma, and Avtar Singh Khanda, who died in the UK in June.
  3.  Indian intelligence officials said that Khanda, Pamma, Pannunm, and Nijjar worked together. They suspected Nijjar and Pamma’s involvement in Khanda’s killing as they considered him to be a liability to Khalistanis in the UK after his role in the attack on the high commission was exposed.
  4. NIA chargesheet said SFJ was floated under the garb of a human rights advocacy group with offices in countries such as the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, etc.

• Sep 20, 2023 11:18 AM IST

  These pro-Khalistan elements are taking shelter in Canada; check out their names

  1. Arshdeep Singh Dala of Khalistan Tiger Force. Stays in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

  2. Satinderjit Singh Brar aka Goldy Brar. Stays in Canada with a valid Indian passport till 2026.

  3. Snover Dhillion. Stays in Ontario.

  4. Ramandeep Singh aka Raman Judge. Stays in BC, Canada.

  5. Gurjit Singh Cheema of Khalistan Liberation Front. Stays in Toronto.

  6. Gurjinder Singh Pannu. Stays in Toronto.

  7. Gurpreet Singh of KLF. Stays in Surrey, Canada.

  8. Tehal Singh of ISYF. Stays in Toronto.

  9. Malkeet Singh Fauji of ISYF. Stays in Surrey. Canada.

  10. Manvir Singh Duhra of ISYF. Stays in BC, Canada

  11.Parvkar Singh Dulai aka Pary Dulai of ISYF. Stays in Surrey, Canada.

  12.Moninder Singh Bijal of KTF. Stays in Vancouver, Canada.

  13.Bhagat Singh Brar akak Bhaggu Brar of ISYF. Stays in Toronto.

  14.Satinder Pal Singhh Gill of ISYF. Stays in Vancouver, Canada.

  15.Sulinder Singh Virk. Stays in Brampton , Canada.

  16.Manveer Singh of KLF. Stays in Toronto, Canada.

  17.Lakhbir Singh aka Landa. Stays in Canada.

  18.Sukhdul Singh aka Sukh Duneke. Stays in Ontario.

  19.Harpreet Singh. Stays in Brampton, Canada.

  20.Sundeep Singh aka Suny aka Tiger. Stays in BC, Canada.

  21.Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal of KTF. Stays in Surrey, Canada.

• Sep 20, 2023 11:10 AM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: What is Five Eyes alliance that backed Trudeau's allegation?

  Canada's charge about India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was backed by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. The alliance which includes- US, UK, Australia, New Zealand other than Canada- called the accusations serious. The US said it was deeply concerned over Justin Trudeau’s claim about India’s role.

  The UK also termed the allegations as serious as British foreign secretary James Cleverly said that his government backs a Canadian investigation to determine whether India was involved in the killing of the Sikh leader. Read more

• Sep 20, 2023 11:01 AM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Trudeau gives ‘high-degree caution’ travel advisory to its citizens 

  The Canadian government on Tuesday updated its travel advisory asking its citizens to avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir “due to the unpredictable security situation”, ramping up a confrontation between the two countries over Canada's accusations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. 

  "Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," Canada stated in the advisory for India, marking it an “Exercise A High Degree Of Caution”.

  The latest development comes even as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday demanded that India treat with “utmost seriousness” Canada's allegations of New Delhi's possible involvement in the slaying of Nijjar, a concern echoed by Washington.

• Sep 20, 2023 10:49 AM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: UK halts trade talks with New Delhi after Trudeau's claim? 

  Britain will continue trade talks with India despite allegations from Ottawa that the Indian government was involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said on Tuesday.

  The spokesperson reiterated that Britain was in touch with Canada about the "serious allegations" but said it would not have a bearing on trade talks with India.

• Sep 20, 2023 10:46 AM IST

  Canadian Opposition leader takes swipe on Trudeau's allegations; asks PM to ‘come clean’

  Taking a jibe at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his allegations on India for its involvement in the alleged killing of the Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada's opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has said that he should come out clean with all the facts in order to make judgements. In a media address on Tuesday, Poilievre said, "I think the prime minister needs to come clean with all the facts. We need to know all the evidence possible so that Canadians can make judgments on that.

  Poilievre's remarks came in response to a media query that asked what more should be done as an Indian diplomat was expelled by Canada.

• Sep 20, 2023 10:40 AM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Trudeau's claim likely shrink US' chance to court New Delhi

  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s shocking allegations that India orchestrated the murder of a separatist leader leaves President Joe Biden caught between one of the US’ closest allies and an increasingly important partner in countering China.

  Indian leader Narendra Modi’s government on Tuesday denied that it had anything to do with the slaying of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada, calling the allegation ‘absurd’. Both nations expelled one of the other’s diplomats, and that’s before Canada has made any evidence public.

  The White House reacted cautiously, with National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson saying the administration was ‘deeply concerned’ and called on India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation. A US official acknowledged the allegations pose a problem for Biden, who just left India with relations seemingly on track.

• Sep 20, 2023 10:37 AM IST

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: What was Trudeau's allegation?

  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told lawmakers in the country's Parlament on Monday that ‘credible allegation’ were found which state agents of Indian government were involved in gunning down Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurudwara in British Columbia. Nijjar was a pro-Khalistan leader and a designated terrorist who was killed in June. 

  “The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness,” the Canadian PM reiterated his allegations.