India asks Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats
(Baonghean.vn) - According to information published by the Financial Times on October 3, India has asked Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats before October 10.
Relations between India and Canada have been severely strained over Canada’s suspicion that Indian government agencies were involved in the June assassination in Canada of Sikh separatist leader and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India considers a “terrorist.”
India has rejected the allegations, which it calls absurd.
According to Reuters, the Financial Times quoted people familiar with India's request as saying that India had threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of diplomats who were required to leave but remained after October 10.
Canada has 62 diplomats in India, and India has said that number should be reduced to 41.
The Indian and Canadian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
Earlier, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said there was an "atmosphere of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi.
