Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said discussions on the modalities to arrive at a parity in diplomatic presence are going on.
The Union government Thursday reiterated that Canada must reduce its diplomatic presence in India to achieve parity in strength and alleged that some Canadian diplomats are interfering in the country’s internal matters.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said discussions on the modalities to arrive at a parity in diplomatic presence are going on.
“As we mentioned earlier, given the much higher presence of Canadian diplomats here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities to achieve this,” Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing.
He said as Canadian diplomatic presence in India is much higher compared to India’s strength in Canada, it is assumed that there would be a reduction.
Earlier this week, India asked Canada to withdraw about 40 diplomats from its missions amid the escalating diplomatic row that erupted following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India has strongly rejected the charges, calling them “absurd” and “motivated”.
Bagchi also flagged India’s concerns over safety of Indian diplomats and India’s diplomatic premises in Canada saying New Delhi has been taking up the issue with Ottawa regularly.
Replying to a separate question on protest by pro-Khalistani elements in the UK, Bagchi said New Delhi took up its concerns with the British authorities.
“In the UK, there was a protest on October 2, and we certainly have taken up our concerns on the security of diplomats and premises there with the UK authorities,” he said. “This has been an ongoing thing. The issue is about security, about ensuring that our diplomats are able to function normally and our premises are safe and that the community is not targeted,” Bagchi said.
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