India's ambassador to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma—who was recently recalled by New Delhi—has accused Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of severely damaging the diplomatic ties between the two countries. In a statement, Verma emphasized that the allegations brought forward by Ottawa were politically motivated and baseless. These tensions escalated following accusations that Verma was linked to the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In response to these claims, India swiftly withdrew its diplomats, and Canada retaliated by formally expelling Indian diplomats. India then reciprocated by expelling six Canadian diplomats.

During an interview with CTV, Verma expressed his dismay over how intelligence-based accusations could be used to destroy long-standing relations between nations. "If you want to destroy a relationship based on intelligence, then be my guest. That is what he [Trudeau] did," said Verma.

Trudeau had previously connected Indian diplomats to Nijjar’s killing, which occurred last year in British Columbia. When asked whether he had any involvement in the murder, Verma denied any connection, stating that no evidence had been provided and calling the allegations "politically motivated." Verma added that any legitimate investigation requires the sharing of evidence, especially when an individual is being accused of wrongdoing.

Relations between Canada and India have been on a steady decline since September of the previous year, but the recent series of allegations has pushed them into a further nosedive. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has dismissed the accusations against Verma as "absurd" and deserving of scorn. The ministry also expressed doubts about the Canadian government's ability to ensure the safety of Indian diplomats in the country.

Verma, a seasoned diplomat who has served in numerous countries, including Japan, Sudan, Italy, Turkey, Vietnam, and China, has faced strong support from India amid these allegations. The Indian government has made it clear that it does not trust the current Canadian administration's commitment to maintaining security.