India Takes Diplomatic Action Against Canada over Sikh Separatist Controversy
In a bold diplomatic move, India has demanded that Canada reduce staffing at its embassy and suspend the issuance of new visas for Canadians. This escalation comes in the wake of the alleged assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and subsequent fallout between the two countries.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, announced the demand shortly after Canada’s embassy in New Delhi revealed plans to adjust staff presence due to threats on social media. The two governments have already expelled senior diplomats identified as intelligence officers.
The specifics of the reduction are still being worked out, but the consequences for bilateral ties are likely to be significant. Bagchi stated that Canada’s diplomatic interference in India’s internal affairs was a factor influencing the demand for parity in diplomatic presence. He also pointed out that Canada has a much larger diplomatic staff in New Delhi than India has in Ottawa.
The controversy began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed in Parliament that there were “credible allegations” of Indian government involvement in the execution of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. Trudeau’s foreign minister then expelled the Indian intelligence service’s station chief.
India retaliated by expelling a Canadian diplomat, and now the demand for staffing reductions is adding to the tension. This move aligns with India’s increasingly assertive foreign policy stance.
Bagchi accused Trudeau of making politically motivated allegations against India and criticized Canada for supporting terrorism. He also cited security threats against Indian diplomats in Canada and a staffing shortage as reasons for India’s suspension of visa services to Canadians.
The Indian company responsible for processing visa applications in Canada, BLS International, suspended visa services due to “operational reasons.” The Canadian High Commission declined to comment on the request to cut down its presence but stated that it was reducing its footprint due to threats received by diplomats on social media.
India has also issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling in Canada, citing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate crimes.
Canadian Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, dismissed the advisory, asserting that Canada is a safe country. Trudeau has maintained that Canada is not seeking to provoke or escalate the situation and wants to work with the Indian government to address the allegations.
This recent development exacerbates the long-standing tensions between India and Canada regarding Sikh separatist movements, with India accusing Canada of sympathizing with terrorists and Canada denying these claims.
The future of India-Canada relations remains uncertain as the diplomatic standoff continues to intensify.
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