As many as 41 Canadian diplomats left India on Thursday after a deadline imposed by the Centre. Another 42 people who came with them also went home. It is known that India has been angered by Canada’s allegations that Indian secret agents were behind the murder of Canadian citizen Nijjar, a Sikh separatist. Besides, Canada had previously imposed a two-week deadline for diplomats to leave the country. Even after this deadline, Canada had to recall its diplomats as India did not loosen its grip.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Jolie, reacted sharply to this development. She described India’s withdrawal of recognition of Canadian diplomats as unethical and unusual. She alleged that India had violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Traditions.
“We have sent the diplomats home as security problems may arise with the cancellation of their credentials. No diplomat in the world is safe from decisions like the revocation of diplomatic recognition. So we will not take such action in case of Indian diplomats,” the minister said in a media conference.