REACTING to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement that there’s credible intelligence that India is behind the assassination of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara President Hardeep Nijjar, India’s External Affairs Ministry in a statement said: “We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated.”

It added: “Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister [Narendra Modi], and were completely rejected. We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.”

India hit back, stating: “Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern.”

It went on to say: “That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern. The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new.”

The statement said: “We reject any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments. We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil.”