India Asks Canada to Downsize its Diplomatic Staff in New Delhi

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Sept 21: Taking a very strong view of the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s insinuations against the Indian government of having “hands” in the killing of alleged “Khalistani” Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India in a retaliatory measure has asked the Canada government to “downsize” its staff in the Canadian high commission in New Delhi.

India has also “temporarily” suspended processing the visa applications for the Canadian citizens both in Canada and elsewhere in the world on “security reasons.”

India has also accused the Canadian diplomats of being “interfering” into the internal affairs of the country and has issued an advisory to the Indian citizens in Canada to move with “utmost caution” in view of the “threat” to their security in Canada. Canada, however, has rejected the advisory refuting there was any threat to the security in Canada of the Indian citizens living there.

Canada has higher number of diplomats present in India than what India has in Canada. New Delhi wanted a reduction in its diplomatic staff in New Delhi amid India-Canada diplomatic row over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist escalated sharply. This was hours after India suspended visa services in Canada, potentially impacting thousands seeking to travel to India.

India on Thursday alleged interference in India’s internal affairs on part of Canadian diplomats posted in India and said it has already intimated the Canadian authorities that it wants a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. India has informed the Canadian government that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in mutual diplomatic presence, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday.

“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,” Bagchi said.

The assertion from the MEA comes as Canada’s high commission in India said it would temporarily adjust staff presence in the country but they cited threats on social media. The spokesperson added that “Canadian diplomatic interference in our internal affairs is a factor”.

On India suspending visa applications in Canada, the foreign ministry cited “security threats” that were “disrupting” the work of their officials. Mission personnel were unable to carry out visa functions because of the security environment that they were facing, said the spokesperson.

“For now, the security situation in Canada and because of Canadian government inaction, we have stopped visa services temporarily,” Mr Bagchi said. The suspension of visas came a day after the foreign ministry said it was concerned for the safety of its citizens in Canada because of “politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence.” “Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” said the foreign ministry.

The ministry of external affairs confirmed that Trudeau when he was in India to attend the G20 summit raised the allegation with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Modi had rejected them. Bagchi said the Canadian government did not provide any details to New Delhi regarding its allegation. Calling Canada a safe haven for terrorist activities, the MEA said it gave a list of 20-25 names of individuals to Canada over the years for carrying out anti-India activities from Canadian soil but no action was ever taken.

Canada’s High Commission had earlier said it would “adjust” diplomat numbers in India after “threats on various social media” against their staff. “In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats. As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India,” it had said in a statement.

India-Canada ties have hit a new low after Justin Trudeau on Monday alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was wanted in India for years and was killed by masked gunmen outside a Gurdwara on June 18 in Surrey near Vancouver.

India has called the allegation “absurd and motivated” and firmly rejected Mr Trudeau’s allegations, saying he offered no evidence.

“We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada,” Mr Bagchi said adding that Canada’s inaction was a huge concern. “From our side, specific evidence about criminal activities by individuals based on Canadian soil has been shared with Canada but not acted upon…Yes, I do think there is a degree of prejudice here. They have made allegations and taken action on them. To us, it seems that these allegations by the government of Canada are primarily politically driven,” he added.

Mr Trudeau’s explosive charge was followed by tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. Canada also suspended talks on a trade deal with India.