Overview

• 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.