NEW DELHI, India: India has told Canada that it must repatriate 41 diplomats by October 10, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Just IN: India asks Canada to withdraw its 41 diplomats from India, threatens to strip diplomatic immunity if they are not called back from India.
— South Asia Index (@SouthAsiaIndex) October 3, 2023
Ties between India and Canada have become seriously strained over Canadian suspicion that Indian government agents played a role in the June murder in Canada of a Sikh separatist leader and Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who India had labelled a “terrorist”.
India has strongly dismissed the allegation as absurd.
According to sources cited by the Financial Times, India has threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of those diplomats who remain beyond the specified deadline of October 10.
The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the Indian demand, said India had threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of those diplomats told to leave who remained after October 10.
Canada currently has 62 diplomats in India, and India has insisted on a reduction by 41, as per the newspaper’s information. Both the Indian and Canadian foreign ministries have not yet responded to requests for comment.
READ ALSO: Indian Consulates in Canada Force to Shutdown Amid Sikh Protests
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar previously highlighted a “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada. This is particularly concerning given the presence of Sikh separatist groups in Canada, which has been a source of frustration for New Delhi.
