Diplomatic Dispute: India-Canada Tensions Over Sikh Leader's Murder

India's high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, refutes allegations of orchestrating the murder of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian authorities claim Indian diplomats targeted Sikh separatists, exacerbating tensions between the nations. Verma, expelled alongside other diplomats, deems the accusations politically motivated and demands evidence.

India's high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has strongly denied any involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader killed last year in British Columbia. Despite being named as a person of interest by the Canadian government, Verma insists the allegations are without merit.

In a statement given to CTV's Question Period, Verma, who was recently expelled along with five other Indian diplomats, described the allegations as politically motivated. He affirmed, 'Nothing at all,' when questioned about his role in the murder, adding that 'No evidence presented. Politically motivated.' Meanwhile, four Indian nationals in Canada await trial for Nijjar's murder.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have accused Indian diplomats of collaborating with organized crime groups to target Sikh separatists in Canada. However, Verma rejected these claims, reiterating there was no evidence provided to substantiate such accusations. This diplomatic row has further strained India-Canada relations.

(With inputs from agencies.)