India to recall top envoy to Canada amid investigation into murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar

India said Monday it was withdrawing its envoy to Canada because Ottawa was investigating him and other diplomats as “persons of interest”, after the killing last year of Sikh separatist leader and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

“We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. “Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials.”

New Delhi received notice via a diplomatic communication that India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, as well as other Indian diplomats, were persons of interest in the investigation, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

The ministry rejected what it called “preposterous imputations” made by Canada and said the move was politically motivated.

The ministry hinted the government could take retaliatory action against Canadian diplomats in India. Canada’s High Commission in New Delhi did not immediately respond to requests for further information.

India’s government did not specify the investigation in which Verma was being sought for questioning, but the statement referred to allegations made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023.