Canada Shifts Diplomats To Kuala Lumpur, Singapore After India's October 10 'Deadline': Report

India had reportedly given Canada October 10 deadline to reduce their diplomatic presence in the country.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Canada has reportedly shifted a majority of its diplomats posted in India to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore as the deadline to reduce diplomatic staff approaches, Canada’s CTV News said.

Amid the India-Canada diplomatic row triggered by PM Justin Trudeau alleging the role of Indian “agents” behind the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Delhi had asked the Trudeau government to move 41 of its diplomats out of India to bring parity between the number of diplomats stationed in each of the two countries.

According to reports, India had given Canada October 10 deadline to reduce their diplomatic presence in the country.

"A majority of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi have been evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore," CTV News stated.

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Earlier on Thursday, India asserted that Canada should reduce its diplomatic presence in the country to achieve parity in strength. New Delhi also alleged that some of the Canadian diplomats are involved in interfering in the country’s internal matters.

Addressing a press conference, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said as the number of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is much higher as compared to India's strength in Canada, there would be a reduction in number. "Our focus is on ensuring parity in diplomatic strength," Bagchi had said.

According to news agency ANI, former Indian diplomat KP Fabian said currently, India has 21 diplomats in Canada while Canada has 62. Therefore, 41 of its diplomatic staff has to be withdrawn.

"In other words, in retaliation for Canada expelling 1 diplomat, India is planning to expel 42 diplomats. This is the essence of the picture. The disparity is not always applied. So, parity has been brought in to put pressure on Canada. It is possible that there is a way out," Fabian told ANI.