Canada pulls 41 diplomats from India due to threat of losing immunity

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Canada has pulled 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi threatened to strip them of diplomatic immunity “tomorrow,” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced at a press conference, on Thursday.

Joly said having their “immunity stripped” by India on the stated deadline of Friday, Oct. 20 would put the Canadian diplomats at risk.

“This means our diplomats and their families have left,” she said. Diplomatic immunity is in effect a shield that protects diplomats serving in other countries from being arrested and is guaranteed under international law.

Joly called India’s threat to breach international law and contravene the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations by stripping immunity “unprecedented.”

However, she said Canada will not reciprocate and India’s diplomats will not be expelled and will continue to enjoy immunity.

Relations between the two countries nose-dived Sept. 18 after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of being involved in the assassination of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He was gunned down by two masked assailants in the parking lot of a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 19. No arrests have been made.

Trudeau called for India to co-operate in an investigation of the murder and Joly said at Thursday’s press conference that Canada “will continue to engage with India.”

That leaves Canada with 21 diplomats to handle consular services in India, which will negatively impact services provided there, said Minister of Immigration Marc Miller, who held the joint press conference with Joly.

However, Miller said, “we will continue to welcome them” to Canada.