India┬аhas told┬аCanada┬аthat it must repatriate 41 diplomats by Oct. 10, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Ties between┬аIndia┬аand┬аCanada┬аhave deteriorated┬аin recent weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau┬аannounced┬аthere were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar, 45,┬аhad been wanted by India for years and was gunned down outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, B.C., on June 18.
India┬аhas dismissed the allegation as absurd.
The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the┬аIndian demand, said┬аIndia┬аhad threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of those diplomats told to leave who remained after Oct. 10.
Canada┬аhas 62 diplomats in┬аIndia, and┬аIndia┬аhad said that the total should be reduced by 41, the newspaper said.
The┬аIndian and Canadian foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The High Commission of Canada in New Delhi told CBC News on Tuesday┬аit┬аhad no comment.┬а
Days after Trudeau’s bombshell announcement, India┬аwarned its citizens to exercise caution when travelling to Canada, citing concerns about “politically-condoned” hate crimes and violence.
Soon after, it┬аstopped processing┬аvisitor visas┬аin Canada.
┬аAt the same time,┬аthe High Commission of Canada said it was temporarily adjusting its staff presence at its commission and consulate locations in India, due to “some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms.”
