New Delhi/IBNS: Amid escalating tension with India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that he is not looking to "provoke" India or "escalate" tension, but wants New Delhi to take the killing of a Sikh separatist with "utmost seriousness"

"We are not looking to provoke or escalate. We want to work with the government of India to lay everything clear and to ensure there are proper processes," Trudeau told reporters Tuesday.

The Canadian PM had earlier alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which took place in June.

It had raised eyebrows and the US had said it was "deeply concerned" about the allegations.

During a speech to the House of Commons, Justin Trudeau Monday said the Canadian security agencies have been "actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar".

India, meanwhile, has rejected Trudeau's claims stating that: "Allegations of the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated."

"Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister, and were completely rejected," the Indian foreign ministry has said.

The matter escalated so much so that over the last two days, Canada and India expelled each other's senior diplomats. On Monday, the unnamed Canadian diplomat was asked to leave India within five days.

The escalation comes shortly after the issue was discussed between Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the recently held G20 in India.

During the G20 talks, PM Modi had reportedly conveyed that extremist elements in Canada are "promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats…  threatening the Indian community and their places of worship".

Trudeau had then assured him that Canada would always "defend freedom of expression... conscience and peaceful protest." But it will also prevent violence and push back against hatred, he had told reporters.