New Delhi: In a tit-for-tat move, the Indian government on Tuesday expelled the Canadian High Commissioner to India with a five-day notice period to leave the country.
The move comes after the Canadian authorities expelled the Indian diplomat on their soil.
The MEA summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay, to convey that the senior Canadian diplomat has been expelled from the country.
The MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said: “The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India. The Canadian diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days.”
#WATCH | Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay leaves from the MEA headquarters at South Block, New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/zFAaTFfeAP
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
“The decision reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” Bagchi added.
India has firmly rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion of a “potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of a Khalistani separatist leader” as unfounded and driven by ulterior motives. India has also called for swift legal action against those engaging in anti-India activities from Canada.
In a parliamentary statement, Trudeau mentioned: “Credible allegations of a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.” After Trudeau’s remarks, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced the expulsion of a senior Indian diplomat from Canada.
(With inputs from agencies)