Canada expelled an Indian diplomat today, saying New Delhi may be responsible for the assassination of a Sikh leader in western Canada last June.

This was announced by the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“The allegations that a representative of a foreign government may have been involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen here in Canada, on Canadian soil, are not only worrying, but completely unacceptable,” said Mélanie Joly. “Therefore, today we expelled a senior Indian diplomat from Canada,” he added. Relations between the two countries have become tense in recent months following the assassination of the Sikh leader and the ensuing protests in Canada.

Ottawa, in particular, recently suspended negotiations on a free trade agreement with India. New Delhi, for its part, accuses the Canadian government of turning a blind eye to the activities of radical Sikh nationalists who advocate the creation of an independent Sikh state in northern India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “deep concern over the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada” during his meeting with Justin Trudeau at the latest G20 meeting in India early of September.

Canada is the country with the largest number of Sikhs outside of their home state of Punjab in India.
India’s reaction was immediate and a few hours later announced that it had ordered a senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country. New Delhi’s decision reflects “growing concern over the interference of Canadian diplomats in internal affairs and their involvement in anti-India activities,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.