Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a startling accusation on Monday, alleging that individuals affiliated with the Indian government were responsible for assassinating a prominent Sikh community leader in British Columbia in June. 

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Trudeau said he had directly addressed India’s alleged involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar during a recent G20 summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing the accusation was based on intelligence gathered by the Canadian government.

“Any foreign government’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil constitutes an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” said the Canadian PM, reiterating Canada’s intent to press India for cooperation in investigating Mr Nijjar’s murder, citing the victim’s advocacy for Sikh separatism.

Subsequently, Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Minister, announced the expulsion of an Indian diplomat, described as the head of India’s intelligence agency in Canada.

Mr Trudeau also acknowledged the concerns of many Canadians of Indian descent disturbed by the killing and, in some instances, felt their safety was at risk—the Canadian Indian community, which includes Sikhs, numbers around 1.4 million.

The accusation of India’s government involvement in a political assassination on Canadian soil is poised to deteriorate bilateral relations further. 

Earlier this month, Canada suspended negotiations on a trade deal with India, initially intended for conclusion this year, which may be linked to the assassination allegations. During the G20 summit, Mr Modi omitted formal bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Trudeau.

Mr Nijjar, aged 45, was shot near a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. In June, Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigators disclosed that masked assailants had ambushed him but refrained from speculating on the attack’s political motivation. Mr Nijjar was renowned for advocating the establishment of an independent Sikh nation, Khalistan, which would encompass parts of India’s Punjab state. 

India had previously designated him as a wanted terrorist.

Although neither Ms Joly nor Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister of public safety, divulged specifics about Indian involvement in the assassination, Mr LeBlanc stated that high-ranking Canadian officials had confronted Indian intelligence agencies with these allegations recently. 

Ms Joly revealed her intention to discuss India’s actions with Canada’s allies after her upcoming visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

This announcement coincided with the launch of a public inquiry into foreign government interference in Canadian affairs, initially prompted by allegations of Chinese meddling. Mr LeBlanc indicated that reviewing India’s actions falls within the inquiry’s scope, stating, “Obviously, these allegations are much more serious.”

Mr. Nijjar had voiced concerns about threats to his life, which were communicated to Canada’s intelligence agency, according to the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, a nonprofit.