India Tells Canada To Repatriate 40 Diplomats Amid Nijjar's 'Killing' Row

New Delhi: The government has asked Canada to repatriate its 40 officials stationed in the country amid the rift between the two countries over New Delhi's alleged role in the killing of Pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada's British Columbia.India has made it clear that it is open to examining any information that Canada might share regarding its accusations of India's role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India does not close its doors to any inquiry, but it needs some evidence to start one.

This statement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed last week that India was behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a charge that India has strongly denied as 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Jaishankar, who met with US Secretary of State Anonty Blinken and NSA Jake Sullivan in Washington DC on Friday, said that the Canadian allegations were not raised during the meeting.

He said, "My understanding is that the word used by the Canadians is allegation...I have already answered it...We've always said that look if there is information let us know. I want to make one thing very clear. It's not that our doors are shut to looking at something". He added, "If there is a requirement for us to look at something, we are open to looking at it. But, I then expect somewhere, some pointer, something for me to look at it."

Canada has not provided any public proof to back up its claim about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response to Trudeau's allegations, India has suspended its visa services in Canada and issued an advisory for its citizens and travellers to Canada to be careful of the increasing anti-India activities and hate crimes in the country. Jaishankar explained that the suspension of visa services was due to the continuous violence and threats against the Indian diplomats and missions in Canada.