India is seeking diplomatic “parity” with Canada amid reports New Delhi has told Ottawa to significantly reduce its official presence in the country.
Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, made the declaration Thursday to reporters as the diplomatic row over the murder of a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist continues to deepen.
“Given the much higher diplomatic presence of Canadian diplomats and their continuing interference in our internal affairs, we had and we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence,” he said.
“Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this.”
India tells Canada to withdraw 41 diplomats amid Nijjar row: reports
Ties between New Delhi and Ottawa have soured since last month when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there is “credible” evidence that agents of the Indian government may have played a role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia this summer.
India has denied the accusations, calling them “absurd.” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said last week that after receiving an intelligence briefing, he could “confirm” that “clear evidence” of New Delhi’s alleged involvement exists.
On Tuesday, The Financial Times and The Associated Press reported that India has told Canada it must repatriate 41 of its 62 diplomats by Oct. 10. New Delhi has threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity if they remain past that date, sources with knowledge of the matter told the outlets.
How tense foreign relations threaten Canada’s international reputation
Bagchi wouldn’t get into specifics on Thursday.
“Obviously, if the parity is achieved, given that Canada has a much larger number of people, there would likely be a reduction in the numbers,” he said.
According to the High Commission of India’s website, New Delhi has 12 diplomats in Canada.
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday the government believes in having a “strong diplomatic footprint” in India.
“We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats’ safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,” she said.
“In moments of tensions — because indeed there are tensions between both our governments more than ever — it’s important that diplomats be on the ground, and that’s why we believe in the importance of having a strong diplomatic footprint in India.”
Trudeau said Tuesday these are “extremely challenging” times.
“Obviously, we’re going through an extremely challenging time with India right now,” he said, not commenting directly on the reports.
“We’re taking this extremely seriously, but we’re going to continue to engage responsibly and constructively with the government of India.”
Nijjar, 45, was a Sikh leader who advocated for the Khalistan movement. India had said Nijjar, who was born in India, had links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar denied.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Jagmeet Singh claims there is ‘clear’ evidence on India’s role in assassination
India also previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat.
The latest expulsions by India have escalated tensions between the countries. Trudeau had frosty encounters with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the September G20 meeting in New Delhi, and a few days later, Canada cancelled a trade mission to India planned for the fall.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder: India open to looking at any ‘relevant’ evidence, foreign minister says
A bloody, decade-long Sikh insurgency shook north India in the 1970s and 1980s, until it was crushed in a government crackdown that left thousands dead, including prominent Sikh leaders.
The Khalistan movement has lost much of its political power but still has supporters in the Indian state of Punjab, as well as in the sizable overseas Sikh diaspora.
While the active insurgency ended years ago, the Indian government has warned repeatedly that Sikh separatists were trying to make a comeback.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder: Protests held outside Indian consulates across Canada
The government, which is led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been described by some prominent human rights groups as one that has cracked down on religious minorities.
“The government has adopted laws and policies that discriminate against religious minorities, especially Muslims,” Human Rights Watch said on its website.
“This, coupled with vilification of Muslims and other minorities by some BJP leaders, and the police failure to act against government supporters who commit violence, has emboldened Hindu nationalist groups to target members of minority communities or civil society groups with impunity.”
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
