India, in one of its strongest statements about the Canada government amid the ongoing diplomatic row, spoke of "politically condoned hate crimes" today. "There is a feeling that these are part of freedom of expression, so these are condoned... there is a concern and we have flagged it," said foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
The pointed statement was a reference to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who, during his visit to India for the G20 conference, had told reporters that Canada will always "defend freedom of expression... conscience and peaceful protest," Mr Trudeau had said. It will also "prevent violence and push back against hatred, he had said.
The diplomatic row that broke out following Canada's allegation that Indian government agents are involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India's most-wanted terrorists and was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on June 18.
India has strongly refuted the allegations. The government also ejected a Canadian diplomat and issued a travel advisory about security risks in Canada in a tit-for-tat move.
Indian citizens living in Canada and those travelling there were asked to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes -- a move that brought a vehement denials from the Justin Trudeau government.
Today, the government asked Canada to downsize their diplomatic presence in India, saying the Canadian diplomatic presence is larger than what India has and needs to be downsized.
Visa services for Canada have also been temporarily halted as mission personnel are unable to function because of the security environment.
Declaring that Canada's allegations are politically driven, the foreign ministry said today that the Canadian authorities have not provided any evidence.
"We are willing to look at any specific information… (but) no specific information has been shared by Canada on Nijjar case," Mr Bagchi said.
India, he added, has shared evidence with Canadian authorities about anti-India activities from Canadian soil. "We are having ongoing conversations with friends and partners," he added.
Vir Das Shares New Schedules For London, Canada Shows: "Voice Is A Lot Better" Canada Aims To Join Military Alliance AUKUS To Counter China In Indo-Pacific Region Pak Man Accused Of Plotting Attack On US Jews Was On Student Visa In Canada LIVE: Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi To Be Delhi Chief Minister AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note Giorgia Meloni's Far-Right Ally Raffaele Fitto Gets Top European Union Role Class 11 Student On Way To Coaching Centre Raped In UP: Police Pics: Supercars Line Up At The World's Largest Temple, Tourists Stunned Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.