Canada Withdraws 41 Diplomats from India Amid Diplomatic Row

New Delhi: Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 family members from India over the ongoing diplomatic conflict between the two countries, declared Canada Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday.

Canada took this decision as India has suspended visa operations to Canada and also called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, calling for ‘parity’.

“As of now, I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk,” Joly said confirming the departure of Canadian diplomats from India.

India and Canada are at loggerheads following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Nijjar. India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’. Nijjar, was a designated terrorist in India.