India calls for Canadian diplomats withdrawal amid ongoing crisis

India has issued a directive to Canada urging the withdrawal of dozens of Canadian diplomats from Indian territory, reported the Financial Times. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing crisis between both the countries, which was triggered by remarks from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggesting a potential link between New Delhi and the murder of Sikh separatist leader and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar was labelled a "terrorist" by India.

New Delhi has explicitly conveyed to Ottawa the requirement to repatriate approximately 40 diplomats by October 10, FT reported quoting sources familiar with the matter. It has been indicated that India has threatened to revoke diplomatic immunity for those diplomats who remain beyond this stipulated date. FT said both the Canadian foreign ministry and the Indian government have refrained from providing official comments on the matter.

Previously, India had expressed the desire for "parity" in terms of the number and rank of diplomats each nation deploys in the other's territory. Canada maintains a larger diplomatic presence at its high commission in New Delhi compared to India's representation in Ottawa. This is due to the necessity of managing a substantial consular section to assist the approximately 1.3 million Canadians of Indian heritage and their relatives.