Justin Trudeau

Trudeau’s Liberal Party, which with its 157 seats fell short of the majority mark in the 338-member House of Commons in last year’s snap elections, depends on the Jagmeet Singh-led New Democratic Party, which has 24 MPs, for survival.

Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Singh Sajjan, who was previously the defence minister, told CBC Radio that Trudeau wanted to ensure Canadians had "accurate information' about the story before it made headlines".

Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday, he said, "We are not looking to provoke or cause problems (with India)."

The emboldened dare from Gurpatwant Pannun, legal counsel of SFJ, which is a banned terror outfit in India, comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, resulting in tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats.

Talking to mediapersons in Lahore, Pakistan People Party (PPP) chief Bilawal seconded the claims by the Canadian PM, saying that "Islamabad has been stating this for years that India has been spreading unrest in other countries like Pakistan and now Canada as part of its state policy and backing." 

"The government of India needs to take this matter with utmost seriousness. We are doing just that... We are not looking to provoke or escalate," Trudeau said in the morning briefing before the House of Commons started.

Canada also expelled "a senior Indian diplomat" for India's alleged involvement in the killing.

Nijjar, who was spearheading the Khalistani referendum in Canada, was gunned down in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey city of British Columbia after evening prayers on June 18 this year.

In an email response to IANS, Mohammad Hussain, Press Secretary of the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, said: "The technical issue with the plane has been resolved. The plane has been cleared to fly. The Canadian delegation is expected to depart this afternoon."

The two have been married since May 2005. The couple have three children -- Xavier, 15, and Hadrien, nine, and Ella-Grace, 14. In a statement on Instagram, Trudeau said, "Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate."