India Sets Deadline for Canada to Withdraw Diplomats, Threatens Immunity Loss
India has issued a deadline for Canada to withdraw approximately 40 diplomats from the country by October 10, amidst strained relations between the two nations. Reports indicate that New Delhi has warned Canada that failure to comply with the deadline will result in the loss of diplomatic immunity for the diplomats in question.
Presently, there are over 60 Canadian diplomats stationed in India. The deteriorating relations between the two countries were aggravated last month when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in Parliament that Indian intelligence agents may have played a role in the murder of Sikh pro-Khalistan hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Following Trudeau’s allegations, a diplomat was expelled by each country. India denounced the accusations as politically driven. On September 21, the Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, responded to queries about a possible reduction of Canadian diplomats in India by stating that the Canadian presence greatly surpasses that of India in Canada, implying that a reduction will be expected.
The murder of Nijjar took place on June 18 outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, when he was shot by masked gunmen.
India’s decision to establish a deadline for the withdrawal of diplomats reflects the strained ties with Canada and the serious implications it could have on diplomatic immunity for Canadian diplomats. The deadline sets the stage for a critical moment in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
