The fragile diplomatic relations between India and Canada took another turn for the worse, as it surfaces that Canada’s foreign minister has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India.
This relocation comes after the Indian government decided to revoke their diplomatic immunity in yet another escalation over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
The relations began to deteriorate after Canada alleged that India may have been involved in the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver.
While India has accused Canada of continually harboring separatists and terrorists, it has also dismissed the allegation of its involvement as ‘absurd.’
New Delhi has since taken multiple diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation.
Associated Press reported:
“Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said Thursday that 41 of Canada’s 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India.
‘Forty one Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk’, Joly said. ‘Our diplomats and their families have now left’.
[…] ‘A unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law and a clear violation of the Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory’, Joly said.”
The removal of personnel in Canadian consulates will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries, and pause in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened this season of distrust when he publicly declared that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the slaying of Nijjar.