Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned Monday that “credible allegations” might tie India to the assassination of a Sikh chief within the nation.

Trudeau addressed the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian who was a staunch supporter of the creation of a separate Sikh state in Punjab, India, referred to as Khalistan.

In a speech to lawmakers within the Canadian House of Commons, Trudeau mentioned that “any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”

Niijar was shot useless by two masked gunmen in June outdoors a Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia.

The Canadian chief mentioned he had knowledgeable the leaders of the opposition immediately concerning the allegations as properly. 

“In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the government of India to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter,” he mentioned.

Trudeau added that the incident is “contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves.”

He added that he had shared his considerations over the allegations “directly” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi final week on the G20 Summit in New Delhi and added that the highest precedence is that “all steps be taken” to carry the perpetrators of this homicide to account. 

“Canada has declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government,” Trudeau mentioned.

Trudeau added that any involvement of a overseas authorities within the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”

He added that he hoped the Indian authorities would “cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter.”

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said the top of Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled from the nation as properly in a press convention on Monday.

“The allegations that a representative of a foreign government may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen, here, in Canada, on Canadian soil is not only troubling but it is completely unacceptable,” Joly added.

Nijjar had beforehand been a “terrorist” by the Indian authorities and accused of main a militant separatist group.

The Khalistan motion, outlawed in India, is a key focus of the Indian authorities. Several teams related to the Khalistani motion have been designated as “terrorist organizations” within the nation.

However, it has help amongst some segments of the Sikh neighborhood in Canada, Britain and Australia, who’ve referred to as for the creation of a separate Sikh state.

Tensions ratcheted up earlier this 12 months after separatist leader Amritpal Singh escaped from Indian authorities, sparking a large manhunt. He was caught weeks later within the Punjab after nearly a month on the run.

The Indian Embassy in Washington didn’t instantly reply to The Hill’s request for remark.

An announcement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs from Sep. 10 mentioned that Modi had expressed “strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada” with Trudeau throughout their assembly on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi.

The assertion mentioned there are parts in Canada “promoting secessionism” and “inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises and threatening the Indian community in Canada.”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned in an announcement that India rejects the assertion made to the Canadian Parliament by Trudeau.

“Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated,” Bagchi mentioned. 

The assertion added that India is a “democratic polity with a strong commitment to the rule of law.”

It additional mentioned that the “unsubstantiated allegations” search to shift the main focus “from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Indian authorities’s assertion additional blasted Canadian politicians for “openly expressed sympathy for such elements” that “remains a matter of deep concern.”

According to the assertion, India rejected any makes an attempt to attach the nation to the allegations made by Trudeau.

Relations between the 2 nations have been frosty and India additional accused Canada and mentioned that “The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organized crime is not new.”

Updated at 11:10 pm.