Canada has evacuated 40 diplomats ahead of the deadline set by India. Diplomatic relations between India and Canada have hit rock bottom due to the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijja. Delhi had given Ottawa a deadline of October 10 to remove the diplomats.
Canada has already moved several diplomats working in India to Malaysia or Singapore. Canadian private media CTV reported such information in a report on Friday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently accused India of involvement in the killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Relations between the two countries deteriorated thereafter. Earlier this week, India ordered Canada to evacuate 40 diplomats amid a diplomatic spat.
In this regard, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs in India, Arindam Bagchi, said that Canada’s diplomatic presence in India is much greater than India’s strength in Canada. Our main goal is to ensure equality of diplomatic power. India will not change its position on this issue.
Reportedly, the number of Canadian diplomats in India is about 60 and New Delhi wants Ottawa to reduce by at least three dozen.
Earlier, India rejected the allegation of involvement in Nijja’s murder. Besides, in response to expelling an Indian diplomat, India also expelled a Canadian diplomat.
