India expels Canadian diplomat in tit-for-tat move; trashes Canada's allegations over Khalistani terrorist's killing

New Delhi, Sep 19 (PTI) India on Tuesday rejected as "absurd" and "motivated" Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist leader and kicked out a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case, marking fresh strain to the already frayed ties between the two nations.

Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron MacKay was summoned and was informed about the decision to expel the senior diplomat with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying the action reflected New Delhi's growing concern at the "interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities".

The chain reactions followed after Trudeau, speaking at the House of Commons on Monday, said Canada was looking at "credible allegations potentially linking" Indian agents to the June killing of Canadian Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was shot dead by two gunmen in Surrey on June 18.