India has instructed Canada to return 41 diplomats, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
India tells Canada withdraw diplomats: Canadian suspicions of Indian government operatives’ involvement in the death of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June have significantly damaged the relationship between India and Canada. India had designated Nijjar as a “terrorist” in India.
However, India has dismissed the accusation as ludicrous.
According to the Financial Times, which cited sources familiar with India’s demand, India threatened to strip the diplomatic immunity of any diplomats who refused to leave after October 10.
India had requested a reduction of 41 of Canada’s 62 diplomats there, according to the publication.
The foreign ministries of Canada and India did not immediately respond to requests for feedback.
The presence of Sikh separatist organisations in Canada has irked New Delhi, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had said that there was a “climate of violence” and a “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian officials there.