Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his concerns on October 20, stating that the Indian government's crackdown on Canadian diplomats was causing significant disruptions for millions of people in both nations. His remarks came after Canada announced the withdrawal of 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their diplomatic status.
Tensions escalated when Trudeau suggested last month that Indian agents might have been involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a claim that India vehemently denied.
"The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy," Trudeau said.
The expulsion of Canadian diplomats is expected to impact travel, trade, and the Indian student community in Canada. Canada has a significant population of approximately two million people with Indian heritage, representing 5% of its overall population. Moreover, India constitutes the largest source of international students for Canada, accounting for around 40% of study permit holders.
In response, the Indian foreign ministry rejected allegations of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and justified its actions by referring to the state of bilateral relations, the higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and perceived interference in India's internal affairs. Consequently, Canada now maintains 21 diplomats in India.
The U.S. State Department weighed in on the dispute, backing Canada's position and urging the Indian government to cooperate with the ongoing Canadian investigation while refraining from insisting on a reduction of Canada's diplomatic presence.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)