Canada expelled six Indian diplomats including the high commissioner on Monday, linking them to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and alleging a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada.
Earlier in the day, India retaliated by ordering the expulsion of six high-ranking Canadian diplomats including the acting high commissioner and said it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada's statement of expulsion.
The diplomatic row represents a major deterioration of relations between the two Commonwealth countries. Ties have been frayed since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year he had evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian territory.
The government now has "clear and compelling evidence that agents of the government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety," Trudeau said at a news conference.
These activities involved clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behaviour, targeting South Asian Canadians and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder, he said.
"This is unacceptable," he said, adding that India had committed a fundamental error by engaging in criminal activities in Canada.
India has long denied Trudeau's accusations. On Monday, it dismissed Canada's move on the inquiry and accused Trudeau of pursuing a "political agenda".
Read next
05:00
Over 300,000 Canadians were left without power on Sunday as a severe ice storm battered parts of Ontario, according to electricity provider Hydro One. The storm brought freezing rain and ice pellets over the weekend, with power outages continuing into Monday morning in some regions.
01:27
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Trump’s auto tariffs mark a permanent shift in Canada’s relationship with the U.S.
21:20
Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a snap election for April 28, saying he needs a strong public mandate to confront growing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he accused of trying to “break” Canada.
09:10
Canadian PM Mark Carney expected to call a federal election for April 28, government sources say.
05:53
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a national trade plan and relief measures as Canada faces rising economic pressure from U.S. tariffs.