Canada has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, the foreign minister said Thursday, in an escalation of their dispute over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
The actions follow Canada's accusations that India may be responsible for the June slaying of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a suburban Vancouver neighborhood. India has charged Canada of sheltering separatists and "terrorists," but it has referred to the claim that it was complicit in the assassination as "absurd" and has taken diplomatic action to show its displeasure with the charge.
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.”
Joly said removing diplomatic immunity is not only unprecedented but contrary to international law, and said for that reason Canada wouldn’t threaten to do the same thing with Indian diplomats.
Joly also said India’s decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. She also said Canada is pausing in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
The actions follow Canada's accusations that India may be responsible for the June slaying of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a suburban Vancouver neighborhood. India has charged Canada of sheltering separatists and "terrorists," but it has referred to the claim that it was complicit in the assassination as "absurd" and has taken diplomatic action to show its displeasure with the charge.
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.”
Joly said removing diplomatic immunity is not only unprecedented but contrary to international law, and said for that reason Canada wouldn’t threaten to do the same thing with Indian diplomats.
Joly also said India’s decision will impact the level of services to citizens of both countries. She also said Canada is pausing in-person services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
