Indian and Canadian authorities have been in contact “at different levels” following a confrontation over Canadian allegations that India may have been involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in the suburbs of Vancouver, an official in New Delhi said on Thursday.

However, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bachi refused to confirm or deny media reports that the foreign ministers of India and Canada met in Washington two years ago. weeks.

“We have been in contact with Canadians at different levels. Regarding this specific interaction, I have no specific information to share,” Bagchi told reporters in New Delhi.

He reiterated that India remains committed to reducing Canada’s diplomatic presence in the country. A Canadian official recently said India had asked Canada to recall 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country.

“We remain in contact with the Canadian authorities on the modalities to achieve this,” he said. Bagchi did not provide details of the conversation between the two countries or indicate a timeline for responding to the Indian request.

Against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions, Canada has decided not to send the President of the Senate, Raymonde Gagné, to the summit of G20 parliamentary presidents that India will host this weekend.

“We invite all members to G20 events. Participation is your decision and is subject to a number of factors. I would ask them to ask the Canadian side about this,” Bagchi said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month there were “credible allegations” that India was involved in the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by gunmen and masked in June in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. .