India's High Commissioner Accuses Canadian Official of Damaging Probe into Sikh Leader's Murder

High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma claims Canadian Prime Minister's accusations against India have "tainted" the investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death, leading to a diplomatic fallout and halting of trade negotiations between the two nations.

• India's High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, accuses a high-level Canadian official of tainting the investigation into the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar by openly associating India with the crime.
• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier claimed that Canada was exploring credible allegations linking agents of the Indian government to Nijjar's death, a claim India vehemently denies.
• Verma argues that despite these allegations, neither Canada nor its allies have shown India concrete evidence to prove Indian agents' involvement in Nijjar's killing.
• The situation resulted in a diplomatic row leading to Canada withdrawing 41 diplomats from India following a request from New Delhi for Canada to decrease its diplomatic presence in response to Canada's allegations.
• The diplomatic fallout also impacted trade talks between the two countries, halting negotiations on a proposed trade treaty three months after India and Canada announced their intention to finalize an initial agreement this year.

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