India said on Tuesday it had expelled a Canadian diplomat with five days’ notice to leave the country, just hours after Ottawa removed the South Asian nation’s top intelligence agent. It accused it of a role in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader.
The development was the latest in an escalating row between the two nations, with Canada saying on Monday it was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder in British Columbia in June.
The Canadian high commissioner, or ambassador, in New Delhi, had been summoned and told of the expulsion decision, India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The decision reflects the government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” the ministry added.