Agencies
TORONTO: Confirming on Thursday that it has pulled 41 diplomats out of India as they faced loss of immunity, Canada announced to temporarily suspend all in-person services at its consulates in India because of its reduced staff strength.
However, Ottawa said it won’t take retaliatory action as it remains committed to dialogue with New Delhi.
“Canada confirms that India formally communicated its plan to remove immunities unilaterally for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in New Delhi by October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunities stripped,” said foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly.
“Given the security implications of India’s actions on these Canadian diplomats and their families, Canada has facilitated their safe departure from India,” she said.
Condemning India’s action, the minister said, “A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and escalatory. India accredited each and every one of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling. And all of those diplomats were carrying out their duties in good faith, and to the greater benefit of both countries.”
Stressing that Canada won’t take any retaliatory action as it wants to remain engaged with India, Joly said, “Diplomatic immunities should be respected and cannot be unilaterally revoked by a host country. If we allow this norm to be broken, no diplomat anywhere would be safe. As such, the Government of Canada will continue to respect diplomatic norms and not reciprocate this action.Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward.”
The minister said the mass expulsion by India will hit its client services. “We will now be forced to temporarily pause all in-person services at Consulates, until further notice. India’s decision will impact levels of services to citizens of both countries.”
India cancelled its visa services in Canada last month and asked Ottawa to pull out its diplomats to ensure parity in the staff strength after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged on September 18 that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Since India has only 21 diplomats in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, it has asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence from 62 to 21 at its missions in India.
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