41 Diplomats
Canada withdrew its 41 diplomats from India and also announced that it would suspend in-person operations at its consulates in several Indian cities. Canada cautioned of potential visa processing delays due to a diplomatic dispute surrounding the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia.
The decision to suspend in-person operations, affecting consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai, was made shortly after Foreign Minister Melanie Joly disclosed that Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India.
Meanwhile, sources within the Indian government clarified that New Delhi has no plans to impose measures limiting imports or investments from Canada despite the ongoing dispute.
Last month, New Delhi had urged Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion of credible evidence linking Indian agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which took place outside a Sikh temple in June. India has consistently denied any involvement in the incident.
In a statement from the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, it was explained that the Consulates General of Canada in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai were temporarily suspending their in-person operations, while services in the capital remained unaffected.
Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department revealed that it would reduce its employee numbers in India from 27 to just five, potentially affecting visa processing times, although the majority of such processes are conducted abroad.
The department also emphasized Canada’s strong and enduring connection with Indian citizens, pledging to continue welcoming them for various purposes, such as visiting, working, studying, reuniting with loved ones, or seeking permanent residence in the country.
Approximately 2 million Canadians, constituting around 5% of the total population, have Indian heritage, and India represents Canada’s largest source of foreign students, accounting for roughly 40% of such students.
