New Delhi

India on Monday (Oct 14) withdrew its High Commissioner, Sanjay Verma, and other targeted officials from Canada amid the ongoing bitter diplomatic standoff. The decision came after Canadian Charge d'Affaires, Stewart Wheeler was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs as Ottawa linked Indian officials to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 

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The Indian government said it has lost faith in the Justin Trudeau government, which prompted it to take the decision.

"We have no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials," read a statement by the Indian ministry of external affairs. 

"It was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government's actions endangered their safety," it added. 

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The government also told Wheeler that New Delhi "reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau Government's support for extremism, violence and separatism against India".

Quizzed about the decision by the Indian government, Wheeler iterated that the Trudeau government had provided enough evidence related to the case. 

"Canada has provided irrefutable evidence of ties between agents of the government of India and murder of Canadian citizen on Canadian soil," said Wheeler. 

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Preposterous allegations

Earlier in the day, the MEA had called the allegations by the Canadian government  “preposterous imputations". In a press release, the MEA categorically dismissed these claims, calling them a part of the "political agenda of the Trudeau Government."

"Prime Minister Trudeau’s hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India," it said.

Also read | India summons Canadian envoy over ‘preposterous’ claims tying Indian diplomats to Nijjar case

New Delhi has maintained that Ottawa is yet to provide any evidence linking it to the death of Nijjar. It accused the Canadian Government of running a smear campaign under the guise of an investigation.

"Since Prime Minister Trudeau made certain allegations in September 2023, the Canadian Government has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests from our side." 

With the recall of the top envoy, the diplomatic ties between the two nations have perhaps hit the rock-bottom.  

(With inputs from agencies)