Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: In a fresh move by the West to persuade Canada to get its bilateral relations with India back to normal, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Friday to de-escalate tension with New Delhi.
The two leaders underscored the importance of de-escalation of the India-Canada diplomatic row and respect for the rule of law in a call, which was dominated by the standoff over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada in June, the media reported on Saturday.
According to a Downing Street statement, the British Indian PM, during his talks with Trudeau, was updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. They agreed to stay in touch as Sunak reaffirmed London’s position of respect for the rule of law after Canada’s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan wanted terrorist.
PM Sunak reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps, it said.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office from Ottawa echoed the statement, saying that Trudeau provided an update on the current situation between Canada and India.
The two leaders emphasized respect for the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens. They agreed to continue working together to tackle global issues, the Canadian government said.
Their conversation came in the wake of Trudeau’s statement in the Canadian Parliament on September 18 that its security forces were “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June, a charge strongly rejected by India as absurd and motivated.
The telephonic talks between Sunak and Trudeau took place days after Indian High Commissioner to London Vikram Doraiswami was blocked from a planned visit to a Glasgow Gurdwara in Scotland last week by pro-Khalistan extremists.
“Concerned to see that the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, was stopped from meeting with the Gurudwara Committee at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all,” Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK Foreign Office Minister for Indo-Pacific wrote on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi that it is coordinating with its mission in Ottawa and consulates in other Canadian cities over safety concerns.
India has also asserted that Canada must reduce its diplomatic presence in the country to achieve parity in strength and alleged that some of the Canadian diplomats are involved in interfering in New Delhi’s internal matters.
MEA Spokesman Arindam Bagchi said discussions on the modalities to arrive at a mutual diplomatic presence are going on and gave a clear indication that India will not review its position on the issue.