In a recent development, the Canadian government has decided to pull 41 diplomats out of India, accusing New Delhi of breaching the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The situation stems from an earlier request made by India, where it asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. This request came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed to credible evidence of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Nijjar was shot outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia.
In response to India’s threats to revoke the official status of 41 Canadian diplomats unless they left the country, Canada’s Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, has organized the departure of these diplomats. India had given Canada until October 20 to comply with the request.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Joly, confirmed that India intended to revoke diplomatic immunities for all but 21 of Canada’s diplomats and their dependents in Delhi. Joly characterized this move as unreasonable and unprecedented, asserting that it violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. She emphasized the importance of diplomatic immunity, highlighting that if it were to be violated, diplomats worldwide would be at risk.
Canada now maintains 21 diplomats in India, with the 41 who departed being accompanied by 42 dependents. The Canadian government had initially set a deadline of October 10 to reduce the number of diplomats in India but extended the deadline while attempting to negotiate privately with India. These negotiations ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Despite the diplomatic tensions, Minister Julie Payette expressed Canada’s commitment to engaging with India and the importance of having diplomats in the field for effective communication. Joly reiterated Canada’s dedication to upholding international law and continuing the dialogue with India.
The mass expulsion of diplomats is expected to have a negative impact on the operations and client service of Global Affairs Canada. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to accept and process applications from India, but certain application requirements will need to be completed locally or on-site in a secure environment, affecting service standards for Indian residents.
Canada’s suspicions regarding Indian agents’ involvement in the murder of a Canadian citizen have been dismissed by India as absurd. It’s worth noting that India is a significant source of international students for Canada, accounting for approximately 40% of all study permit holders. The departure of diplomats will likely reduce the number of embassy personnel dealing with immigration in Canada, potentially impacting individuals, families, institutions, communities, and businesses in the country.
Despite the diplomatic row, both countries remain committed to dialogue and engagement, as they move forward to resolve this issue.
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