Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney in June 2025 on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit at Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

New Delhi:

India on Friday described the recent murder of three Indian students in Canada as “terrible tragedies” and said its high commission in Ottawa has taken up the matter of safety of Indians with the Canadian authorities.

The safety, security, and welfare of Indian nationals in Canada remains of utmost importance to us, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

New Delhi has demanded a thorough investigation into the killing of the three Indians.

“In the last week or so we have had unfortunate tragedies. Three Indian students have been murdered. We are saddened at these terrible tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada,” Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. Our High Commission and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver are extending all possible help in the matter,” he said.

Jaiswal said the Indian missions in that country are in touch with the local authorities for thorough investigation of the incidents.

India’s call for safety of Indians in Canada and demand for a thorough investigation into the murders of three students came amid frosty ties between the two countries.

“Issues faced by them, especially Indian students, are raised by our high commission and Consulates with the relevant Canadian authorities on a regular basis,” he said.

“We have also issued an advisory for our nationals and Indian students to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant in view of the deteriorating security environment in Canada as a result of the growing incidence of hate crimes and criminal violence,” Jaiswal added.

According to official data, over 400,000 Indian students are studying in Canada.

In October, India-Canada ties nosedived sharply after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year.

India strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the high commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian envoy and a few other diplomats were expelled from the country.

New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following the allegations by Canada.

Asked about reports in Canadian media about instances of the Indian high commission in Ottawa refusing visas to certain individuals, Jaiswal described them as a “disinformation” campaign.

“We have seen the said media report. It is yet another example of Canadian media’s disinformation to malign India,” he said.

“Granting of Indian visas is our sovereign function and we have the legitimate right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity,” he said.

“The commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India’s sovereign affairs,” Jaiswal added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Brampton, Canada:

Amid heightened diplomatic tension with India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called his own intelligence officials “criminals” for linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to violence on Canadian soil.

Addressing media in Brampton on Friday, Trudeau said, “We have seen, unfortunately, that criminals leaking top-secret information to the media have consistently gotten those stories wrong.”

“That’s why we had a national enquiry into foreign interference, which has highlighted that criminals leaking information to media outlets are unreliable on top of being criminals,” he added.

Reacting on Globe & Mail report on PM Modi, EAM, NSA, Canada PM Justin Trudeau terms his officials ‘criminals’ for leaking information to media on Indian Leadership; Terms media reports ‘wrong’

Ctsy: CPAC pic.twitter.com/eQji6hKkNw

— Vipul (@_lonewolf0308) November 23, 2024

The development came after Canada, on Thursday, fact-checked and denied a report linking top Indian leaders to criminal activities on Canadian soil. 

In a statement posted on a government website, Nathalie Drouin, Mr Trudeau’s intelligence adviser, said: “The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of the evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate.”

Canada’s statement came after Globe and Mail newspaper published a report this week, alleging that Canadian security agencies believed PM Modi knew about the violent plots and said Mr Jaishankar and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval were also in the loop.

Last month, The Canadian foreign ministry alleged Union Home Minister Amit Shah was behind a campaign of intimidation in Canada. Ottawa says it has evidence linking Indian government agents to the 2023 murder of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who held a Canadian passport.

The ties between the two countries have come under severe strain following Trudeau’s allegations in September last year of a “potential involvement” of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who held a Canadian passport.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau’s charges as “absurd”. India has maintained that the main issue between the two countries is that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity.

The row has escalated to a point where both countries have expelled each other’s top diplomats.

New Delhi:

Canada rolled back its standard operating procedures for extra screening of travellers flying to India, days after the move was implemented “out of abundance of caution”.

The revised measures, that come amid souring ties between India and Canada, mandating that travellers to India will not be subject to extra screening. 

Canada’s Transport Minister Anita Anand on Monday, had earlier said that the “temporary additional security screening measures” may cause passengers some delays.

The back-and-forth comes at a time a diplomatic crisis plagues India-Canada ties after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “agents” of Delhi of being involved” in the killing of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing in Vancouver in June last year. He claimed “credible information” had been shared with intelligence partners, including the US.

The Canadian government expelled Indian diplomats and in a tit-for-tat move, New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats.

“I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil. Whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable,” Mr Trudeau said.

Nijjar – the mastermind behind banned terror outfit Khalistan Tiger Force – was on Delhi’s list of ‘most wanted’ terrorists for multiple crimes, including the murder of Hindu priest in Punjab. Anti-terror agency NIA had offered a Rs 10 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.

On Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said a Canadian report claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of the plot to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a “smear campaign”. A day later, the Canadian government called the Globe and Mail report “speculative and inaccurate”.

“On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of the evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada,” the statement read.

Amidst heightened diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, Elon Musk’s reaction to posts on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has resonated with many social media users in India. In recent days, the billionaire has replied to or quoted several posts on X that criticise Mr Trudeau. Last week, Mr Musk predicted Justin Trudeau’s downfall in the upcoming election, which is set to take place on or before October next year. “He will be gone in the upcoming election,” Mr Musk wrote on X while responding to a user’s request to help Canada get rid of Mr Trudeau.

He will be gone in the upcoming election

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2024

The billionaire also reshared another post showing a graph on how Canada’s GDP per capita has fallen under the Trudeau government. “Wow,” he wrote while reacting to the tweet.

Wow https://t.co/grHLNcXToA

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 10, 2024

Reacting to Mr Musk’s tweets, one Indian X user wrote, “He (Justin Trudeau) is another woke virus run by Khalistani terrorists. He has no respect anywhere.” “We agree with you,” said another. 

“Cannot wait! Trudeau is a disaster! commented X user Udayan Mukherjee. “Hope your words turn into reality next yr,” said user Shubham Chaudhary. 

Mr Musk slammed the Justin Trudeau government last year as well for “crushing free speech” in the country. After the Canadian government made it compulsory for online streaming services to formally register with the government for “regulatory controls”, Mr Musk called this policy “shameful” and wrote, “Trudeau is trying to crush free speech in Canada”.

Before this, in February 2022, when Mr Trudeau invoked emergency powers – for the first time in the country’s history – to arm his government with more power to respond to truckers protesting the vaccine mandates at that time, the billionaire compared him to Adolf Hitler.

Responding to an X post describing how Trudeau’s government had ordered banks to help cut funding to the protesters, Mr Musk posted a meme of a photo of Hitler, with “Stop comparing me to Justin Trudeau” written above his head and “I had a budget” below it.

Also read | Temple In Canada Cancels Consular Event Amid Threat Of “Violent Protests”

These comments by Mr Musk come amidst heightened political and diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. India has raised concerns over extremism and anti-India activities within Canada, calling for action to counter these issues. The strained ties worsened following accusations by Canadian leaders about the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leading India to recall its High Commissioner.

Moreover, in the past few months, the Indian community in Canada has also experienced a surge in violence and hostility, with reports ranging from vandalism of temples to verbal and physical assaults on individuals.

These recent events have raised alarm among Indian communities and their supporters. So naturally, Mr Musk’s criticism of the Justin Trudeau government has resonated with many Indians, likely giving his popularity a boost in India.

New Delhi:

As the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada continues, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitted for the first time the presence of Khalistanis in his country. In an unexpected statement, Trudeau acknowledged the presence of a Khalistan support base within Canada but quickly added that they do not represent the Sikh community as a whole. His remark came during a Diwali celebrations event at Ottawa’s Parliament Hill. 

Relations between India and Canada have deteriorated since the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. Trudeau’s allegation that India may have been involved in the murder set off a diplomatic firestorm that continues to rage. During his Diwali address, Trudeau stated that while there are supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in Canada, they do not represent all Hindu Canadians either.

“There are many supporters of Khalistan in Canada, but they do not represent the Sikh Community as a whole. There are supporters of the Modi government in Canada, but they do not represent all Hindu Canadians as a whole,” he said. 

Growing Tensions

Earlier this week, protesters, some waving Khalistani flags, clashed with devotees at a temple in Canada’s Brampton, throwing punches, swinging poles, and disrupting a consular event that had drawn Indian nationals and Canadian citizens alike. Videos that quickly went viral on social media appeared to show protesters physically confronting worshippers outside the temple grounds. The footage depicted chaotic scenes of fistfights, with people hitting each other with poles as the tension escalated. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the violence, stressing that every Canadian has the right to practice their faith in peace. “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely,” Trudeau wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Thank you to the Peel Regional Police for swiftly responding to protect the community and investigate this incident.”

The Centre expressed deep concern over the safety of Indian nationals in Canada, while unequivocally condemning the attack on the Hindu Sabha temple.

“We have seen violent disruption today (November 3), orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp co-organised with the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, near Toronto,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a statement. “We also remain very concerned for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organised in the first place. Despite these efforts by anti-India elements, our Consulate was able to issue more than 1,000 life certificates to the Indian and Canadian applicants.”

No Evidence, Only Intelligence

India has consistently rejected any link to the murder of Nijjar, a designated terrorist by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and accused Trudeau’s administration of pandering to Khalistani sympathisers for political gain. The Trudeau government has accused India of being complicit in Nijjar’s killing, a claim India has vehemently denied.

India has termed the allegations as politically motivated, pointing to Canada’s failure to address the rising tide of pro-Khalistan sentiment in the country. In the aftermath of Nijjar’s death, Canadian police suggested that six Indian diplomats were involved in the plot, a claim that India quickly dismissed as “preposterous.” Despite multiple exchanges, including meetings at international forums like the G20 Summit, Canada has failed to provide any conclusive evidence linking India to the murder.

Last month, the Centre issued a blistering response to Canada’s charges, rejecting claims that India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, was a “person of interest” in Nijjar’s murder. India not only dismissed the claims about Verma but also pointed out that despite repeated requests for evidence, Canada had failed to share any substantive proof to substantiate its allegations. 

In a startling admission during a public inquiry in October, Trudeau admitted that Canada had no “hard evidentiary proof” in 2023 to support allegations linking Indian government agents to the killing of Nijjar.  Speaking during a public inquiry into alleged foreign interference in Canada’s federal electoral processes and democratic institutions, Trudeau revealed that his claims about India’s involvement were based on intelligence rather than conclusive evidence. 

“I was briefed on the fact that there was intelligence from Canada, and possibly from Five Eyes allies that made it fairly clear, incredibly clear, that India was involved in this… Agents of the government of India were involved in the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil,” he said.

Trudeau explained that Canada had the option to go public with the allegations during the G20 summit held in New Delhi in September 2023 but chose not to.

“Our response was, well, it’s within your security agencies,” Mr Trudeau said, recounting Canada’s exchanges with India. “At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof. So we said, let’s work together and look into your security services.”

The Indian government has argued that Canada provides a safe haven for pro-Khalistani extremists and separatists who pose a threat to India’s security. New Delhi also said that it had requested action against these elements, which Canada had failed to take seriously.

New Delhi:

External Affairs Ministry on Friday termed as fake a ‘secretly issued memo’ that has surfaced on social media and that falsely attempts to link Indian diplomats abroad with violent crimes.

No such memo has been issued by the Government of India, the External Affairs Ministry said.

“The said GoI communication is fake,” the External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division (XP Division), of the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The April 2023 dated fake memo purportedly from former Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra asks Indian diplomats to “cultivate” Indian diaspora groups in Canada “as a vital force in the street confrontations with Sikh extremists”.

It goes on to mention names of various groupings of the diaspora including the Indo-Canada Association (ICA), Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), TiE Silicon Valley (TiE SV), and USIBC amongst others.

This comes amid the ongoing India-Canada standoff over India’s allegations that Canada acts as a safe haven for Khalistani separatists. Last week devotees and other people were attacked at the premises of a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario. India has condemned the violence and urged Canada to provide security to Indian diplomats.

Last month, India “strongly” rejected a diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were “persons of interest” in Nijjar’s killing and termed it as “preposterous imputations” and part of the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau government.

Following this, then High Commissioner Verma and five other diplomats were recalled by New Delhi.

Ties between India and Canada soured after Mr Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he has “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India denied all the allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated” and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

As its ties with Canada continued to remain at an all-time low, India on Saturday said some of its consular officials were informed by the Canadian government that they have been under audio and video surveillance, and termed the action a “flagrant violation” of diplomatic conventions.

Asserting that Canada could not hide behind technicalities to justify its harassment and intimidation, India said it had lodged a protest with the Canadian government.

Addressing a briefing on Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions.”

Pointing out that India’s diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of “extremism and violence”, Mr Jaiswal added, “By citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation… This action of the Canadian government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices.”

During the briefing, Mr Jaiswal also revealed that a Canadian diplomat had been summoned on Friday over claims by Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison that Home Minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Khalistani extremists in the country.

Stating that a diplomatic note had been handed over to the representative of the Canadian High Commission, the spokesperson said, “It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison.”

Referring to reports of Canada admitting that its officials leaked sensitive information to the Washington Post, the Ministry of External Affairs said such actions will have “serious consequences” for ties between India and Canada. 

“In fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view the Government of India has long held about the current Canadian government’s political agenda and behavioural pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties,” he warned.

Ties between India and Canada have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed – without offering any evidence – last year that “Indian agents” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The allegation has been rubbished by New Delhi several times and it has asked Canada to produce evidence to back up the claim.

The relationship hit a new low earlier this month when the Indian High Commissioner was termed a “person of interest” in the killing. India dismissed the fresh charge as “ludicrous” and withdrew the High Commissioner and some diplomats while expelling six Canadian officials, including Canada’s acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler.

New Delhi:

Rubbishing a Canadian minister’s claims that Home Minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Khalistani extremists in the country, India has termed them “absurd and baseless” and said a Canadian diplomat had been summoned. 

Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison had made the allegations while addressing members of the country’s Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Tuesday.

Replying to a question on Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said a representative of the Canadian High Commission had been summoned on Friday and a diplomatic note was handed over.

“It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison,” Mr Jaiswal said. 

Canada has admitted that its officials leaked sensitive information to the Washington Post and the Ministry of External Affairs warned that such actions will have “serious consequences” for ties between India and Canada. 

“In fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view the Government of India has long held about the current Canadian government’s political agenda and behavioural pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties,” the spokesperson said. 

Categorisation, Surveillance

Responding to reports that Canada has named India an “adversary” alongside China, North Korea, Russia and Iran in its National Cyber Threat Assessment, Mr Jaiswal said this was another example of imputations being made without evidence. 

“This appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India. As on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence,” he said. 

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also said some of India’s consular officials were informed by the Canadian government that they have been under surveillance and called it a “flagrant violation” of diplomatic conventions. He also made it clear that New Delhi sees the action as a form of harassment and intimidation.

“Some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” Mr Jaiswal said. 

“By citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices,” he asserted. 

Diwali Celebrations

To a question on Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelling Diwali celebrations that were scheduled to be held at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, sparking a backlash from the Indian community, Mr Jaiswal said, “We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism.”

On the reduction in the number of visas by the Canadian government, the spokesperson said the ministry is monitoring the well-being of students and temporary workers from India who are currently in Canada and its concern for their safety and security remains strong.

Ties between India and Canada have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed, without offering any evidence, last year that “Indian agents” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – an allegation that has been dismissed by New Delhi several times.

The relationship hit a new low earlier this month when the Indian High Commissioner was termed a “person of interest” in the killing.  India dismissed the fresh charge as “ludicrous” and withdrew the High Commissioner and some diplomats while expelling six diplomats, including Canada’s acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler. 

New Delhi:

Rubbishing a Canadian minister’s claims that Home Minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Khalistani extremists in the country, India has termed them “absurd and baseless” and said a Canadian diplomat had been summoned. 

Canada’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison had made the allegations while addressing members of the country’s Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on Tuesday.

Replying to a question on Saturday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said a representative of the Canadian High Commission had been summoned on Friday and a diplomatic note was handed over.

“It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison,” Mr Jaiswal said. 

Canada has admitted that its officials leaked sensitive information to the Washington Post and the Ministry of External Affairs warned that such actions will have “serious consequences” for ties between India and Canada. 

“In fact, the revelation that high Canadian officials deliberately leak unfounded insinuations to the international media as part of a conscious strategy to discredit India and influence other nations only confirms the view the Government of India has long held about the current Canadian government’s political agenda and behavioural pattern. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral ties,” the spokesperson said. 

Categorisation, Surveillance

Responding to reports that Canada has named India an “adversary” alongside China, North Korea, Russia and Iran in its National Cyber Threat Assessment, Mr Jaiswal said this was another example of imputations being made without evidence. 

“This appears to be another example of a Canadian strategy to attack India. As I mentioned earlier, their senior officials have openly confessed that they are seeking to manipulate global opinion against India. As on other occasions, imputations are made without any evidence,” he said. 

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also said some of India’s consular officials were informed by the Canadian government that they have been under surveillance and called it a “flagrant violation” of diplomatic conventions. He also made it clear that New Delhi sees the action as a form of harassment and intimidation.

“Some of our consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communications have also been intercepted. We have formally protested to the Canadian government as we deem these actions to be a flagrant violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” Mr Jaiswal said. 

“By citing technicalities, the Canadian Government cannot justify the fact that it is indulging in harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular personnel are already functioning in an environment of extremism and violence. This action of the Canadian Government aggravates the situation and is incompatible with established diplomatic norms and practices,” he asserted. 

Diwali Celebrations

To a question on Canada’s opposition leader Pierre Poilievre cancelling Diwali celebrations that were scheduled to be held at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, sparking a backlash from the Indian community, Mr Jaiswal said, “We have seen some reports in this regard. It is unfortunate that the prevailing atmosphere in Canada has reached high levels of intolerance and extremism.”

On the reduction in the number of visas by the Canadian government, the spokesperson said the ministry is monitoring the well-being of students and temporary workers from India who are currently in Canada and its concern for their safety and security remains strong.

Ties between India and Canada have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed, without offering any evidence, last year that “Indian agents” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – an allegation that has been dismissed by New Delhi several times.

The relationship hit a new low earlier this month when the Indian High Commissioner was termed a “person of interest” in the killing.  India dismissed the fresh charge as “ludicrous” and withdrew the High Commissioner and some diplomats while expelling six diplomats, including Canada’s acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler.