Ottawa (Canada). Amid tensions between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, top government sources told NEWS18 that Canadian diplomats are visiting Khalistan supporters at various embassies in Chandigarh and other areas of Punjab. They are misusing their power to issue visas to people. With a known criminal background. Canadian diplomats have become ‘very soft’ on granting visas to people despite knowing their background, sources said.
He said that visas are being extended only to support the Khalistan issue so that the Khalistan campaign can gain maximum strength. Sources said Canadian diplomats did this deliberately. He was very clear; He had to issue visas to some people to take them out of India. People involved in criminal cases were also granted visas by these diplomats and sent to Canada. Another point of contention between the two countries is Canada’s refusal to assist India in extradition in some cases as well as screening of asylum seekers in Canada.
Tensions rose between the two countries over the recall of diplomats
Sources said that the Indian government has evidence that Canada is also supporting the Indian farmers’ movement. Here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently said that India has evidence of Canadian government’s interference in India’s affairs. On the issue of withdrawing diplomats, the minister quoted ANI as saying that the whole issue of parity is how many diplomats one country has versus another. Equality is provided by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international regulation.
Canadian diplomats were interfering in Indian affairs
But in our case, we called for parity because we were concerned about the continued interference in Indian affairs by Canadian personnel, he added. We haven’t made much of it public. I believe more things will come out with time. Will people understand why we had such discomfort with so many of them?
Demanded parity with Canada by reducing diplomatic numbers
Tensions between India and Canada escalated when the Justin Trudeau government announced it had recalled 41 diplomats. The withdrawal came a day before the deadline set by India, otherwise they were liable to lose their diplomatic immunity. New Delhi sought “parity” in the strength of Canada’s diplomatic presence by reducing the number of people stationed in the country from 62. Trudeau called India’s action a violation of the Geneva Convention.
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Tags: Canada, Canada News, diplomat, India, Visa
First published: October 23, 2023, 16:22 IST