The Indian government has repeatedly shot down as “absurd” and “motivated” the claim it was linked to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

New Delhi:

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau late Monday doubled down on accusations of India “supporting criminal activity against Canadians” and “coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians”.

The two countries this week exchanged a second round of tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats, amid a deepening row over claims linking “agents of the Indian government” with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in June last year.

India — which has yet to respond to these latest comments — has set up a high-level committee to investigate the allegation. However New Delhi has repeatedly shot down “absurd” and “motivated” the claim it was linked to the murder, pointing out no evidence has been provided to back up the charges.

On Monday, Delhi also said that since the allegations were first made, the Trudeau administration “has not shared a shred of evidence with the Government of India, despite many requests…”

In comments after India ejected six Canadian diplomats — including acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler and his deputy — Mr Trudeau said he had shared information about the accusations with Five Eyes partners, particularly the United States.

These latest charges, though, represent an escalation as they allege a wider campaign of the Indian government — of working, Mr Trudeau said, with organised crime elements in Canada to “collect — through questionable and illegal means — information on Canadian citizens… (that is fed to criminal organisations) that would then take violent actions from extortion to murder”.

“I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil. Whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable,” Mr Trudeau declared.

Mr Trudeau also said, “We shared our concerns with the Government of India and asked them to work with us…”. However, he claimed that these requests had been “repeatedly refused”.

“That is why… this weekend… Canadian officials took an extraordinary step. They met with Indian officials to share RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) evidence, which concluded six agents of the Government of India are ‘persons of interest’ in criminal activities. And despite repeated requests to the Government of India, they have decided not to co-operate…”

Mr Trudeau’s allegations coincide with sliding support and tanking popularity ratings, and two electoral losses ahead of next year’s elections. At Monday’s press conference he said it was his “responsibility to take action and never hesitate to do what is necessary to protect Canadians”.

The comments came after a RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Brigitte Gauvin warned Canadians of a public safety threat but offered few details. They would only say the RCMP has evidence pertaining to “connections” between a certain number of individuals arrested and charged for murder (eight people) and extortion (at least 22) and the Government of India.

Pressed on the current “public safety threat to Canadians”, Mr Duheme called on Canadian citizens to come forward if faced with “intimidation, harassment, coercion, or extortion, in any way or form, (to) obtain information for the Government of India”.

The current row spiked after Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, acting on RCMP information, issued six Indian diplomats a deportation notice. “They must leave Canada…” Mr Trudeau said, “Let me be clear… the evidence brought to light by the RCMP cannot be ignored…”

READ | India To Withdraw High Commissioner Amid Escalation Of Canada Row

From its side, Delhi has ramped up criticism of the Trudeau government, saying accusations against its envoy, Sanjay Kumar Verma, are “ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt”.

READ | “Political Agenda Of Trudeau Government”: India Slams Canada

Delhi also said that Mr Trudeau’s “hostility to India has long been in evidence”.