World
Canada Relocates Majority Of Diplomats From India To Singapore, Kuala Lumpur Ahead Of Deadline Set By New Delhi: Report
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau (Left) with Indian PM Narendra Modi (Right)
The Canadian government has evacuated most of its diplomats in India in response to a request from the Indian government to reduce its diplomatic staff.
According to a report by Canada's CTV News, a majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi have been "evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore".
This move comes amidst a diplomatic dispute between the two countries surrounding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India had earlier this week asked Canada to withdraw around 40 diplomats by 10 October, according to a Financial Times report.
The FT report said that the Indian government has also threatened to remove the diplomatic immunity of any Canadian diplomats who remain in the country after the deadline.
On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced that India has requested Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff in order to "bring parity".
"Given the much higher diplomatic presence in India and their continuing interference in our internal affairs, we had sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence," Bagchi said.
However, it is currently uncertain how many Canadian diplomats have been relocated from India.
"Earlier reports pegged the number of diplomats that would have to leave at 41, but the sources CTV News spoke with said the ask is specific to one of parity," the report by the private Canadian broadcaster said.
"At the same time, CTV News has learned a majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi have been evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore," it added.
Diplomatic relations between India and Canada have recently worsened due to allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister regarding Trudeau regarding the "potential" involvement of Indian agents" in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was fatally shot by two masked gunmen on 18 June in British Columbia.
India, however, strongly dismissed these allegations and labeled them as "absurd" and "motivated."
In response to Canada's expulsion of an Indian official, New Delhi also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat.
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