New Delhi, September 20: Amid diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is learnt to have briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the developments. According to sources, Jaishankar met the Prime Minister in Parliament and is learnt to have briefed him over the developments related to Canada, sources said.
Diplomatic ties between the two nations hit an all-time low when on September 18, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged in his Parliament that Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between Indian government agents and the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly had said on the same day that an Indian diplomat had been expelled. India-Canada Row Over Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing: India’s Diplomatic Approach, Military Records With Canada Continue, Says Indian Army
On Tuesday, India, while expelling a senior Canadian diplomat, had described the allegations by Trudeau as "absurd and motivated". The High Commissioner of Canada to India (Cameron Mackay) received a summon on Tuesday (September 19) during which the Government of India conveyed its decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat currently stationed in the country. The concerned diplomat has been officially instructed to depart from India within the next five days, a statement issued by the external affairs ministry mentioned. Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing: Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Takes Pro-Canada Stand, Alleges ‘India Has Been Spreading Unrest in Other Countries’
"The decision reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities," the statement had said further.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2023 02:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).