Canada has withdrawn dozens of its diplomats from India after the Indian authorities mentioned it might revoke their diplomatic immunity, amid an ongoing dispute over the homicide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 mentioned on Thursday 41 of the nation’s 62 diplomats in India have been eliminated, together with their dependants.
She mentioned they had been “in danger of having their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date” and this may put their private security in danger. It was for that reason Canada wouldn’t be reciprocating the motion, she added.
“A unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law and a clear violation of (the) Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations. Threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory,” Ms Joly mentioned.
“Given the implications of India’s actions on the safety of our diplomats, we have facilitated their safe departure from India.
“If we permit the norm of diplomatic immunity to be damaged, no diplomats wherever on the planet can be secure. So for that reason, we is not going to reciprocate.”
Exceptions have been made for the opposite 21 Canadian diplomats who will stay in India, she added.
Ties between the 2 international locations have plunged to their lowest level in years after Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, informed 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 lifeless outdoors 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 strategy of organising an unofficial referendum on its proposed unbiased Sikh state earlier than he died.
No one has been arrested over his killing.
Canada has but to offer public proof to again Mr Trudeau’s allegations. Last month, nonetheless, it revealed the claims had been primarily based on intelligence offered by a serious ally and surveillance of Indian diplomats within the nation.
Source: information.sky.com”