News - India wants Canada to withdraw over 40 diplomatic staff

India has asked Canada to recall over 40 of its diplomats from India, according to a report from the Financial Times.  New Delhi has set a deadline of October 10 for the repatriation, as informed by sources familiar with the matter. According to them, New Delhi has threatened to remove Canadian representatives who will remain in India after that date from its list of diplomatic immunity. Canada's foreign affairs ministry and the Indian government have declined to comment to the Financial Times. Relations between Canada and India have been strained since Ottawa decided on September 18 to expel a senior Indian diplomat over allegations that the country's intelligence services were involved in the killing of Canadian Sikh community leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that this diplomat is a representative of Indian intelligence, and warned that Canada will not tolerate any interference in its affairs. After that, the Ministry of External Affairs of India summoned Canadian Ambassador Cameron MacKay and informed him about a similar retaliatory decision from New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs of India believes that Canadian politicians openly sympathize with terrorists and extremists in Khalistan, which causes deep concern. The embassy of India in Ottawa has suspended the issuance of visas. Also, Indian citizens have been advised to avoid traveling to Canada.