Ye Darr Achaa Laga! Canada removes 41 diplomats after India threatens to revoke their immunity

Weeks after the India's warning to the Ottawa,the Canadian government in fear of Modi government's action,now departed its 41 diplomats from India, just a day before the deadline set by New Delhi. The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tension between India and Canada over slain pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

 

 

Canada's foreign minister Mélanie Joly said 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.

 

The diplomatic drawdown came after India sought “parity” in the strength of Canada’s diplomatic presence by bringing down those stationed in the country from 62 to 21.

 

“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."

 

 

 

The original deadline for bringing down the number of Canadian diplomats in India was October 10. But Canada had let that deadline elapse while engaging in private negotiations with India. However, those talks appear to have failed.

 

"Canadians watching may be wondering what this means for our operations in India. There's no question that India's decision will impact the levels of services to Consulates in both countries. Unfortunately, we have to put a pause on all in-person services in our Consulates in Chandigarh, in Mumbai and in Bangalore..." Joly further said.

 

However, she added that Canada will “continue to engage” with India, as “Now more than ever, we need to have diplomats on the ground and we need to talk to one another.” Joly said, “Canada will continue to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward.”

 

 

 

This is the latest development in the cratering of the relationship between the two counties after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18.

 

“India’s decision will not distract from Canada’s legitimate investigation into the killing of Mr Nijjar. Canada’s priorities in this matter continue to be the pursuit of the truth, the protection of Canadians, and the defence of our sovereignty,” Joly said.

 

Both countries expelled a diplomat in the immediate aftermath of Trudeau’s statement. Najjar was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in the town of Surrey in the province of British Columbia. Najjar was considered a terrorist by Indian authorities but no charges had been levelled against him in Canada or were tested in a Canadian court.