NEW DELHI: Ties between India and Canada plunged to a new low on Tuesday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on his country's soil.

Trudeau was referring to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Khalistani leader was shot dead outside a Gurudwara on June 18 in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb with a large Sikh population, three years after India had designated him as a "terrorist".Here is a roundup of the issue:'Absurd allegations'India promptly described the Canadian PM's allegations as "absurd and motivated"."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 the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the ministry of external affairs said.India said the "inaction" of the Canadian government on this matter has been "long-standing" and of continuing concern.Diplomatic escalationIn tit-for-tat move, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after a similar move by Ottawa.The Canadian foreign minister's office had identified the expelled Indian diplomat as Pavan Kumar Rai, the head of India's foreign intelligence agency in Canada, the Toronto Star newspaper reported.Angry over the expulsion, the MEA summoned Canadian high commissioner to India Cameron MacKay and informed him about the decision to expel a senior Canadian official.The Centre said the move reflects New Delhi's growing concern at the "interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities."Not trying to provoke India: TrudeauHours after the diplomatic escalation, Canada's Trudeau said he is not trying to provoke India by suggesting its agents were linked to the murder.However, he said that Ottawa wants New Delhi to address the issue properly."The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness.

We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate," he told reporters.Earlier, during his speech, Trudeau told the lawmakers that any involvement of a foreign government in killing a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is “an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”"It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open and democratic societies conduct themselves,” he said.

Security stepped up outside Canadian High CommissionAmid the diplomatic flare-up, officials said security was increased outside the High Commission of Canada on Tuesday in central Delhi as a "precautionary measure".A senior police officer said, "The personnel of Delhi Police, along with the paramilitary, have been deployed as a precautionary measure outside the High Commission." Fresh strain in tiesThe latest spat deals a fresh blow to diplomatic ties that have been fraying for years, with New Delhi unhappy over Sikh separatist activity in Canada.

It now threatens trade ties too, with talks on a proposed trade deal frozen last week.During the bilateral meeting with Trudeau on September 10, Prime Minister Modi had conveyed India's strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada as they are promoting secessionism, inciting violence against Indian diplomats and threatening the Indian community there.Global leaders express concernIn Washington, the White House said it was "deeply concerned" about the allegations raised by Trudeau."We remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners.

It is critical that Canada's investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.In London, a UK government spokesperson said on Tuesday that Britain was in "close touch with our Canadian partners about these serious allegations."However, Sunak's office said the allegations won't have any impact on ties between India and UK, adding that the trade talks between the two will "continue as before".

A spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Canberra was "deeply concerned" by the allegations made by Canada."We have conveyed our concerns at senior levels to India," the spokesperson said.'9 separatist outfits supporting terror groups have bases in Canada'Amid the row, Indian officials said at least nine separatist organisations supporting terror groups have their bases in Canada.They added that despite multiple deportation requests, Ottawa has taken no action against those involved in heinous crimes including the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.They said that pro-Khalistani outfits such as the World Sikh Organization (WSO), Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) working at the behest of Pakistan have been allegedly operating freely form the Canadian soil.The issue of deportations of wanted terrorists and gangsters have been raised by Indian authorities at multiple diplomatic and security talks but the Canadian authorities remained non-committal and brazen in support of these terror elements, the officials said.Multiple dossiers have been handed over to the Canadian side but India's deportation requests have gone unaddressed, they said, adding at least nine separatist organisations supporting terror groups have found their bases in Canada.Who was Nijjar?Nijjar, 45, was one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head.A prominent Khalistani leader, he was trying to organize an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora with the organization Sikhs For Justice.He also owned a plumbing business and served as president of a local Sikh temple or gurdwara.Am Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against him in 2016.

The local police of Surrey had also put Nijjar under house arrest temporarily in 2018 on suspicion of his terror involvement but he was released later.(With inputs from agencies)