Canada removes 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi threatens to revoke their immunity amid Sikh murder dispute
- Exceptions have been made for 21 diplomats who will remain in India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says
- The minister added that removing diplomatic immunity is contrary to international law and ‘a clear violation of Geneva Convention on diplomatic relations’
Canada’s foreign minister said on Thursday that the country has recalled 41 of its diplomats from India after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, escalating a spat over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
The moves come after Canada’s allegations that India may have been involved in the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in suburban Vancouver.
India has accused Canada of harbouring separatists and “terrorists”, but dismissed the allegation of its involvement in the killing as “absurd” and has taken diplomatic steps to express its anger over the accusation.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Thursday that 41 of Canada’s 62 diplomats in India have been removed, along with their dependents. Joly said exceptions have been made for 21 Canadian diplomats who will remain in India.
02:58
India’s Sikhs worry about the future as row with Canada escalates
“Forty one Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having their immunity stripped on an arbitrary date and this would put their personal safety at risk,” Joly said. “Our diplomats and their families have now left.”
