New Delhi: During a recent press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the departure of nearly 100 Canadian diplomatic staffers from India in recent months, attributing the reduction to local staffing adjustments. Jaiswal emphasized that the matter is administrative and should be addressed by Canadian authorities for clarification.
Jaiswal assured that visa processing and operations remain unaffected, noting that any inquiries regarding these processes should be directed to the Canadian side for accurate information.
Last October, Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India and suspended visa and consular services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates following India’s decision to remove their immunity, citing concerns over the disproportionate diplomatic presence.
India responded by emphasizing the need for parity in diplomatic representation and denied any violation of international norms. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India’s actions align with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated when Canadian PM Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the allegations, labeling them as baseless, while Canada has yet to provide evidence to support the claim.