Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says that India is lifting the immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats as of Oct. 20 and they have hence been recalled home.
The minister additionally told reporters on Oct. 19 that Canada would not retaliate against the move.
“It’s clearly not a measured response,” said Ms. Joly, saying it violates international law and the Vienna Convention on diplomatic representation.
“This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date, and this would put their personal safety at risk.”
Ms. Joly said diplomats rely on immunity to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrests from local authorities.
New Delhi had floated taking such a step following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation on Sept. 18 that agents of the Indian government were involved in the June murder of a Sikh secessionist on Canadian soil.
India, which has long complained about Khalistan secessionist activity in Canada, has called the accusations “absurd and motivated.”
Canada had 62 diplomats in India, but Ms. Joly says 41 Canadian diplomats and their families have now been pulled out.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Sept. 21 that his government had asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff.
“We have informed the Canadian government that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalents in ... mutual diplomatic presence,” said Mr. Bagchi, adding that Canada’s numbers are “very much higher than ours.”
Canada declared the head of India’s intelligence service in Canada, Pavan Kumar Rai, persona non grata on Sept. 18. India responded the next day by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat.
The Global Affairs Canada (GAC) website currently lists 60 accredited Indian diplomats in Canada, with three of them being non-residents.
Along with taking this measure, India has also stopped issuing visas to Canadians.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller, speaking alongside Ms. Joly, mentioned that India in 2022 was the top country of origin for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada.
He said that Canada would keep accepting and processing all temporary and permanent resident applications despite Canada having fewer staff on the ground.
Mr. Miller said the contractor-operated visa centres would not be impacted.
Mr. Trudeau rose on the first day of the fall session in the House of Commons on Sept. 18 to say there are “credible allegations” that Indian agents were involved in the killing of B.C. man Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
He has not since substantiated the allegations, but the United States has said some intelligence on the matter had been shared among the Five Eyes partners, a group that includes Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the U.K.
