Tuesday saw the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat by India of a senior Canadian diplomat by Canada. The action follows India’s rejection of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim that India was involved in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June as “absurd and motivated.” Cameron MacKay, the Canadian High Commissioner to India, was called to the South Block, where the Ministry of External Affairs is based, today.
“The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said today.
“The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days. The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” it said.
On Monday, Melanie Joly, the foreign minister of Canada, announced that an Indian diplomat had been expelled from the country due to claims that India was complicit in the murder of the Khalistani leader.