Canada Shifts Several Diplomats From India To Malaysia Or Singapore: Report (image:instagram/justinpjtrudeau)
Canada moved several diplomats from India to Malaysia or Singapore as India’s October 10 deadline demands reduction of diplomats, as per the reports. India’s decision was to achieve parity in diplomatic presence. India-Canada relation got severed when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged involvement of Indian agents in the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Due to the escalation of diplomatic row, India has asked Canada to pull out about 41 diplomatic staffs from India, and also said that those who stayed after October 10 will lose their diplomatic immunity.
“A majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of New Delhi have been evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore,” Canada’s CTV News reports. However, there were no official confirmation was released on the shifting of diplomats from New Delhi.
When asked about diplomatic parity, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that discussions are conducting on the matter, and since Canadian diplomatic presence in India is high in comparison to India’s staffs in Canada, there would be a reduction.
India-Canada relations hit all time diplomatic low when Mr Trudeau made allegations against Indian intelligence agents involvement over Nijjar’s killing, which India dismissed as “absurd” and “motivated”. Following, both countries expelled their senior diplomats. India, then has suspended visa services to Canada, and Canadian government issued a new travel advisory as well.
Amidst these escalating crises, last week Mr Trudeau told reporters as India’s influence is growing worldwide it extremely important for Canada to keep strong connection with India.
“India is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. And as we presented with our Indo-Pacific strategy, just last year, we are very serious about building closer ties with India,” he said to reporters as quoted by National Post.
At the same time, he stressed that India should work with Canada “to ensure that we get the full facts of this matter.”
