LEAD

The divide between Canada and India grew further on Wednesday after India asked Indian nationals living in Canada to exercise caution, ramping up the ongoing confrontation between the two countries over Canada's accusations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

The Indian travel advisory follows tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions by both countries.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said he was not looking to "provoke" India or "escalate" tensions, but urged New Delhi to take the killing of a Sikh separatist leader with the "utmost seriousness". Trudeau's comments came hours after Canada and India expelled a senior diplomat each following his allegations about the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

The Union Cabinet met in Delhi on Monday evening after the first sitting of the special session of Parliament, amid speculation that it may clear some important legislative proposals. There was no word on what transpired in the meeting which lasted for over 90 minutes.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended by Union ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Nitin Gadkari and Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The defense ministry has granted approval for the acquisition of a regiment of 'Pralay' ballistic missiles, which will be deployed along the Line of Actual Control and the Line of Control.

The decision to add more firepower to the Army's military capabilities was reached during a recent meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, and it represents a pivotal development for the Army.

BJP president JP Nadda on Friday alleged that top Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi had handed over the "agenda of abusing and disrespecting" Sanatan Dharma to their key ally DMK and other partners of the "arrogant" opposition coalition INDIA.

Nadda made the allegation even as fellow BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dubbed the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as a "civilizational fight" in which people of the country will vote for "protecting the Sanatan Dharma". Several union ministers also targeted the new opposition alliance over the Sanatan Dharma issue.