Canada has withdrawn dozens of its diplomats from India after the Indian authorities stated it might revoke their diplomatic immunity, amid an ongoing dispute over the homicide of a Sikh separatist chief.
The transfer follows Canada’s claims that India could have been concerned within the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar within the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Canada’s overseas minister Melanie Joly stated on Thursday 41 of the nation’s 62 diplomats in India have been eliminated, together with their dependants.
She stated they have been “at risk of getting their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date” and this is able to put their private security in danger. It was because of this Canada wouldn’t be reciprocating the motion, she added.
“A unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is opposite to worldwide legislation and a transparent violation of (the) Geneva Conference on diplomatic relations. Threatening to take action is unreasonable and escalatory,” Ms Joly stated.
“Given the implications of India’s actions on the protection of our diplomats, we have now facilitated their protected departure from India.
“If we permit the norm of diplomatic immunity to be damaged, no diplomats wherever on the planet could be protected. So because of this, we won’t reciprocate.”
Exceptions have been made for the opposite 21 Canadian diplomats who will stay in India, she added.
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Canada killing ‘linked’ to India authorities
Ties between the 2 nations have plunged to their lowest level in years after Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, advised parliament final month there are “credible allegations” India was concerned within the killing of Mr Nijjar, a Sikh independence activist.
The claims have been dismissed by India as “absurd”.
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Mr Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen, was shot {dead} exterior a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June.
He was one of many key members of the Khalistan motion – and was within the technique of organising an unofficial referendum on its proposed unbiased Sikh state earlier than he died.
Nobody has been arrested over his killing.
Canada has but to offer public proof to again Mr Trudeau’s allegations. Final month, nevertheless, it revealed the claims were based on intelligence provided by a major ally and surveillance of Indian diplomats within the nation.