Indian diplomat: Nijjar death row: Canadian official harmed investigation into Nijjar's death

 Indian diplomat: Nijjar death row: Canadian official harmed investigation into Nijjar's death

Verma told the publication, "I would go one step further and say now The inquiry conducted has already been tainted." "A instruction has come from someone at a senior level to say India or Indian agents are behind it" , he said.

After the Canadian prime minister's accusations in September, New Delhi requested that Ottawa decrease its diplomatic presence, and Canada responded by withdrawing 41 diplomats from India.

Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's the United Nations High Commissioner to Canada, said the Globe and Mail in an interview that was published on November 4 that public remarks made by a high-ranking Canadian official had harmed the country's police investigation into the June murder of a Sikh terrorist in British Columbia.

India has been accused by Canada of being involved in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in a Vancouver neighborhood. India referred to Nijjar as a "terrorist". India refutes the claim.

Verma told the publication, "I would go one step further and say now that this inquiry has already been tainted." "A suggestion has come from someone at a high level claiming that India or Indian agents are behind it" .

Verma withheld the high-ranking official's identity. "Canadian the police have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a possible link between agents of the authorities of India" and Nijjar's murder, according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement on September 18.

The two nations are embroiled in a diplomatic spat over the issue. 41 Canadian diplomats were removed from India after New Delhi requested in September that Ottawa scale up its diplomatic presence in response to Canada's accusations over Nijjar's death.

According to Verma, neither Canada nor its allies have provided India with hard proof that Indian operatives were responsible for Nijjar's death.

He said that India would want to strengthen commercial relationships and go back to the trade table in spite of the tense relations between the two nations.

Three months after the two countries said they intended to finalize an initial agreement this year, Canada put a halt to negotiations on a potential trade deal with India in September.