Anurag Kumar
Following Canada’s confirmation of the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Friday that India’s actions are severely complicating life for millions of people in both countries, adding that this will cause a delay in visa services in India. Canada characterized India’s action as irrational and escalatory, in response to New Delhi’s request that Ottawa reduce its diplomatic presence in India in order to achieve parity, given that India maintains a significantly smaller diplomatic presence in Canada. Furthermore, Canada’s Canadian diplomats were accused by India of meddling in its internal affairs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public allegation that India was involved in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar incited the diplomatic repercussions between India and Canada. Canada was accused by India of providing a secure haven for terrorists, which India rejected.
“The Indian government is severely impeding the ability of millions of individuals in India and Canada to carry on with their daily lives. “In doing so, they are violating an extremely fundamental principle of diplomacy,” Trudeau was quoted as saying by Reuters.
“I am deeply troubled by this matter, as it affects the happiness and welfare of millions of Canadians with Indian subcontinent ancestry,” he said, adding that the expulsion of certain diplomats will create obstacles for Indian students pursuing their education in Canada.
‘Unreasonable and escalatory’: Canada
The confirmation that Canada facilitated the safe departure of 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents from India was issued by the Canadian foreign ministry. Canada stated that international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, is violated by India’s conduct. “India’s current course of action is utterly irrational and escalatory.” India has granted accreditation to every single Canadian diplomat that it is presently expelling. “Moreover, all of those diplomats were acting in the best interests of both nations and in good faith,” the statement continued.
‘Reject any attempt to portray…’: India
In response to the Canadian statement, the Ministry of External Affairs denied any attempt to “present the implementation of parity as a breach of international norms.” India reaffirmed that a significantly greater quantity of Canadian diplomats were in its territory. The statement stated that the pursuit of parity is “completely consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
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From 62 to 21, Canada has maintained a diplomatic presence in India; this reduction will have an effect on visa services in India. Until further notice, we are compelled to temporarily suspend all in-person services at consulates. As a result of India’s decision, service levels for citizens of both nations will be affected…Work requiring an in-country presence, such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment, and supervision of key partners (including visa application centres, panel physicians, and clinics that conduct immigration medical examinations), will continue to be the focus of the five IRCC employees who remain in India. “The remaining personnel and tasks will be redistributed throughout our worldwide processing network,” Canada announced.
