New Delhi, Oct 3 : In the midst of escalating tensions between India and Canada, reports indicate that India has requested Canada to withdraw approximately 40 diplomats from the country by October 10.
New Delhi has purportedly conveyed to Canada that if the diplomats are not withdrawn by the specified deadline, they will lose their diplomatic immunity. Presently, over 60 Canadian diplomats are stationed in India.
Diplomatic relations between the two nations reached a historic low last month when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament that Indian intelligence agents may have been involved in the murder of Sikh pro-Khalistan hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response to Trudeau’s accusations, both countries expelled one diplomat each. India also dismissed Canada’s allegations as politically motivated.
On September 21, in response to questions regarding a potential reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated, “Yes, we’ve informed the government of Canada that there should be parity in strength in our mutual diplomatic presence. Their number is significantly higher than ours in Canada… I assume there will be a reduction from the Canadian side.”
Nijjar was fatally shot by masked gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.
