NEW DELHI: India strongly protested Canada's bad remarks after withdrawing 41 diplomats following the ultimatum.
The Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that there is a possibility of terrorist attacks and that pickpocketing is common in busy cities and tourist destinations. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly also made similar allegations against India. The press release also contains instructions such as not to carry large amounts of money and not to interact with strangers. This instructions were sent as a warning to Canadian citizens.
India's response was that this was pure nonsense. India openly said that there were bad intentions behind this and also denied the allegation of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations between the countries.
Consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh were closed with the withdrawal of diplomats. The Canadian High Commission in Delhi should now be contacted for the services received here. India pointed out that the only thing that was done was to equalize the strength of the diplomatic staff of the two countries, and that Canadian officials interfered in internal affairs. With the new developments, relations between the two countries have further soured.
India-Canada relations were rocked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement that India was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Following this, both countries expelled their diplomatic representatives.
Canada's mockery
17,500 visa applications in crisis
Only 21 Canadian diplomats remain in India. Ten visa application centers will continue to operate but staff will be reduced from 27 to five. As it works on a global network system, it is indicated that applications can be handled outside India as well. Processing of 17,500 existing visa applications will be at a standstill. Efforts were made to settle all these applications before December. Students trying to get to Canada and Indians in Canada are worried. The procedures will be delayed. Last year, Indians were the highest in number in obtaining permanent residence, temporary work visas and student visas. Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller has stated that Indians will continue to be accepted.