Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has suggested that the Indian government might be responsible for the fatal shooting of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Mr. Nijjar was killed outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia on June 18.

According to Mr. Trudeau, Canadian intelligence has established a credible connection between Mr. Nijjar's death and the Indian state. He discussed this matter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent G20 summit.

In the House of Commons on Monday, Mr. Trudeau emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental principles governing free, open, and democratic societies."

India has consistently denied any involvement in Mr. Nijjar's murder. In response to Mr. Trudeau's statements, Canada expelled an Indian diplomat on Monday, as announced by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. She noted that Canadian officials are constrained in what they can publicly disclose due to the ongoing homicide investigation.

The fatal shooting took place in the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara's busy parking lot in Surrey, a city located approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) east of Vancouver. Mr. Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader in British Columbia and a vocal advocate for a separate Khalistani state, was shot dead in his truck by two masked gunmen on a mid-June evening.

India has previously labeled him as a terrorist and alleged his involvement in a militant separatist group, accusations that his supporters vehemently deny.

Mr. Trudeau mentioned that Canada has communicated its concerns regarding Mr. Nijjar's death to high-level security and intelligence agencies in India. He has also raised the issue with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, urging the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in uncovering the truth behind the incident.

These remarks by Mr. Trudeau follow a tense meeting he had with Mr. Modi during the G20 summit in India last week. During the meeting, Mr. Modi criticized Canada for not taking sufficient action against "anti-India activities of extremist elements," referring to the Sikh separatist movement's presence on Canadian soil.