India on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, rejected the Canadian allegation that a prominent pro-Khalistan activist was murdered by agents of India “on Canadian soil”. Ministry of External Affairs stated that such allegations divert attention from the activities of Khalistan operatives in Canada. In response, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled an Indian diplomat. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the use of Canadian soil by anti-India elements and urged Ottawa to take legal action against them. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a figure of the Khalistan movement based in British Columbia, terming it an “unacceptable violation.” Canada has also expelled an official from India’s external intelligence agency, R&AW. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed support for the government’s stance on the issue.