In a diplomatic development that has captured international attention, India has voiced its concerns over what it perceives as interference in its internal affairs by Canadian diplomats stationed in the country. The Indian government has formally communicated its desire to see a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats on Indian soil. The basis for this request is a quest for parity in both the quantity and rank of diplomatic personnel, as stated by Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs.
Mr. Bagchi remarked, “Their numbers here are very much higher than India’s diplomatic presence…We have seen Canadian diplomatic interference in our internal affairs. This is being taken into account, and parity is being sought in rank and diplomatic strength. We think Canadian numbers will go down. Discussions are going on.”
The recent friction between the two nations’ diplomatic missions stems from a series of events:
1. Trudeau’s Allegation: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was wanted in India for several years and was killed in June. Trudeau claimed to possess credible allegations of Indian involvement.
2. Diplomatic Expulsions: In retaliation to these allegations, both India and Canada engaged in a tit-for-tat expulsion of one diplomat each from their respective consulates.
3. Safety Advisory: India issued a safety advisory to its citizens residing in Canada, urging them to exercise utmost caution.
4. Visa Services Suspension: India temporarily suspended its visa processing services in Canada, which also impacts Canadian residents living abroad.
5. India’s List of Individuals: The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that it had provided Canada with a list of 20-25 individuals over the years, suspected of engaging in activities detrimental to India’s security, but no action was taken by the Canadian authorities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically rejected Trudeau’s allegations during the G20 summit when they were raised, and India maintains that Canada has not provided any substantive evidence to support its claims.
This diplomatic standoff raises questions about the future of India-Canada relations, which have traditionally been characterized by goodwill and cooperation.
