Toronto (Canada) (EFE).- Canada’s first minister, Justin Trudeau, involved this Indian government in the leadership of a Canadian leader in the country, accusing him of causing a serious diplomatic conflict with the authorities of New Delhi.

At a press conference in New York, where he is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly, he reiterated that “there is reliable evidence to believe that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of a Canadian on Canadian soil”.

“We are asking the Indian government to work with us to get to the bottom of this matter,” Trudeau added.

His statements come shortly after India announced on Thursday the suspension of the issuance of visas for Canadian citizens and asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic mission in the country.

The diplomatic conflict between the two countries erupted last Monday when Trudeau, in a solemn declaration in the Canadian Parliament, revealed that Canadian intelligence services consider India responsible for the murder last June of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Trudeau commits to respecting Canadian law

Singh Nijjar, a Sikh minority leader who advocated the creation of an independent Sikh state in northern India and who became a Canadian citizen in 2007, was shot dead in June in Surrey, western Canada.

It is “unacceptable for a country to be involved in the murder of a citizen on our territory,” Trudeau said on Thursday, emphasizing that Canada will always defend and protect its citizens.

Canada’s prime minister has refused to reveal evidence that points to the involvement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and said Canada’s justice system will act on that evidence.

When asked why none of Canada’s main allies have publicly supported Canada despite Trudeau sharing evidence with countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France and Australia, he replied that his government defended the laws.

“India is a country of growing importance. “We are not looking to provoke or cause problems, but we are going to be categorical on the importance of the law, on the importance of protecting Canadians and defending our values,” Trudeau added.

India is not silent

India called Trudeau’s accusation meaningless and instead blamed him for tolerating anti-Indian separatist activities on Canadian soil.

New Delhi thus refers to the separatist feelings of a part of the Sikh minority in Canada, a large part of the Indian diaspora, which defends the creation of Khalistan, a nation for Sikhs on a territory which belongs to India and which is at the same time the origin of this religion.

“It is Canada that must examine the damage and its growing reputation as a haven for terrorists, extremists and organized crime. I think it is this country that should strive for its international reputation,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a press conference today.

Such signals are unusual from New Delhi to a friendly nation and were until now reserved only for its neighbor Pakistan.