Top Indian diplomats expelled by Canada after linking them to Sikh leader’s murder.

India responded earlier in the day by declaring it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada and ordering the expulsion of six senior Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, in defiance of Canada’s expulsion declaration.

Relations between the two Commonwealth nations have significantly deteriorated as a result of the diplomatic dispute. Since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed to have proof last year that Indian agents were involved in the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, relations have soured.

At a press conference, Trudeau stated that the government now possesses “clear and compelling evidence that agents of the government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety.”

According to him, these activities included the use of covert methods for obtaining information, coercive tactics, targeting South Asian Canadians, and taking part in more than a dozen violent and threatening crimes, including murder.

“This is unacceptable,” he declared, adding that India had made a basic mistake by committing crimes in Canada.

India has consistently refuted Trudeau’s charges. It rejected Canada’s action on the investigation on Monday and charged Trudeau with having a “political agenda.”