Canada's Trudeau tells India: 'This is unacceptable'

Diplomatic ties between India and Canada sunk to a new low on October 14 as each expelled six diplomats in tit-for-tat moves in an escalating dispute over the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist in Vancouver last year, Report informs referring to the DW.

Canada has alleged that agents linked to the Indian government were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent campaigner for a sovereign Sikh state — known as Khalistan — in northern India.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on October 14 identified India's envoy as a "person of interest" in its investigation, and Canada's Foreign Ministry asked the diplomat and five others to leave the country. India soon responded in kind.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday evening that India had "made a fundamental error in choosing to use their diplomats and organized crime to attack Canadians."

"As the RCMP commissioner stated earlier, they have clear and compelling evidence that agents of the government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said after the news of the diplomats being sent home.

"This includes clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behavior targeting South Asian Canadians, and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder. This is unacceptable," Trudeau said.

He added: "Canada is a country rooted in the rule of law and the protection of our citizens is paramount. We will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil."