'False implications': MEA denies Canada expelled envoys, says India pulled its diplomats first

Amid the ongoing India-Canada row, India's External Affairs Ministry on Thursday (Oct 17) reiterated that after putting "serious allegations" on India for its role in the death of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada has not given any evidence so far to prove it. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday admitted that their government did not have any hard evidence while alleging that the Indian government was involved in the killing of Nijjar. 

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing a weekly briefing, emphasised that India has made its position "very clear". 

"You would have seen that several press releases have been issued in the last two days putting out our position, which we are very clear that since September of 2023, the Canadian government has not shared any shred of information with us. Yesterday, again, after the public, public hearing, we had again issued a statement saying that Canada has leveled serious allegations, but has so far not given any evidence to cut it up," he said. 

Also read: Justin Trudeau admits Canada had no ‘hard proof’ of India’s role in Nijjar killing, only ‘intel’

He further denied the reports that Canada had expelled six Indian diplomats, adding that New Delhi acted first. "We have withdrawn our diplomats before Canada took any step," Jaiswal said. "We reject false implications against our diplomats. Canada has not shared any evidence with us."

The MEA spokesperson further stressed that till date, 26 extradition requests have been made by India to Canada for wanted criminals, however, no action has been taken. 

"We have asked Canada and given them identities of people of Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. RCMP blaming us is a contradiction," he said. 

Highlighting the attack on Canadian journalists of Indian origin, Randhir Jaiswal said that these are clear examples of "intimidations", adding that shifting the blame to India does not work. 

Watch | India-Canada Row: Five Eyes Allies Senda Support To Canada, 'Serious Allegations' 

"These are clear examples of intimidation and violence by those who openly espouse extremist and separatist ideology. It is also an example, or these are also examples of what afflicts Canada today and which reveals the sources of violence. Shifting the blame to India does not work anyhow," the MEA spokesperson said. 

In a late night statement on Wednesday, Indian foreign affairs ministry called out Trudeau’s "cavalier attitude", adding, “What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along — Canada has presented us (India) no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats."

Moreover, New Delhi also held Trudeau responsible for severed diplomatic ties between the two nations. 

(With inputs from agencies)