NEW DELHI: New Delhi stated on Thursday (Sep 21) it’s searching for the discount of Canadian diplomatic employees in India and has stopped visa companies, as a row over the killing of a Sikh separatist deepens.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded India treat with “utmost seriousness” allegations that Indian brokers performed a job within the June homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar close to Vancouver.
The fallout prompted tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and a forceful denial from India, which stated any suggestion it performed a job in Nijjar’s killing was “absurd”.
The allegation has despatched already strained relations between the world’s most populous nation and G7 member Canada to a brand new low.
“We now have knowledgeable the Canadian authorities that there ought to be parity” in diplomatic presence, Indian overseas ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi informed reporters.
“Their numbers listed here are very a lot larger than ours in Canada … I assume there will probably be a discount.”
New Delhi additionally stated it had stopped dealing with visa functions in Canada, blaming “safety threats” which they stated have been “disrupting” the work of their officers.
“For now, the safety state of affairs in Canada and due to Canadian authorities inaction, we’ve stopped visa companies briefly”, Bagchi stated.
“THREATS”
Hours earlier, Canada’s Excessive Fee stated it might “adjust” diplomat numbers in India after “threats on varied social media” towards their employees.
“In gentle of the present surroundings the place tensions have heightened, we’re taking motion to make sure the security of our diplomats,” Canada’s mission stated in an announcement.
“Consequently, and out of an abundance of warning, we’ve determined to briefly alter employees presence in India.”