NEW DELHI: India confirmed that it had demanded further reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence, following reports New Delhi had ordered dozens of Foreign Service officers repatriated in dispute over killing of Sikh separatist.

Relations between Delhi and Ottawa nosedived two weeks ago when Canada raised possibility of Indian government involvement in assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver in June.

Fallout prompted tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and forceful denial from India, which said any suggestion it played role in Nijjar’s killing was “Absurd”.

Indian Foreign Ministry Chief spokesman Arindam Bagchi would not confirm Financial Times report this week that Canada had been told to repatriate 41 of its 62 diplomats by October 10. But he did say that India “Assumed that there would be reduction” in Canada’s presence after asking Ottawa to match number of diplomats New Delhi had serving there.

India has already advised its nationals against travelling to parts of Canada and has temporarily stopped processing visa applications to Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described situation as “Extremely difficult” and said that Ottawa was seeking to avoid escalating situation.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 06 2023

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