00:00 Tensions continue to mount over Ottawa's allegations this week that Indian government agents may
00:05 have been involved in the murder of a Canadian citizen.
00:09 The Canadian High Commission on Thursday claimed that some of its diplomats have been receiving
00:13 threats on social media in the wake of the diplomatic row between New Delhi and Ottawa.
00:18 It added that it is temporarily adjusting staff presence in India.
00:22 Reports also revealed that Canada is pulling some diplomats out of India.
00:27 On Wednesday, Jean-Pierre Godbout, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, confirmed that
00:32 Canada would be bringing some of its staff out of the country.
00:35 Godbout wrote in an email that Canada is taking action to ensure the safety of its diplomats
00:41 and Global Affairs Canada is looking at its staff complement in India, with some diplomats
00:46 having received threats on several social media platforms.
00:50 Godbout said, "As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily
00:56 adjust staff presence in India.
00:58 All of our locations are staffed by diplomats and locally engaged staff to ensure business
01:03 and operational continuity."
01:05 Earlier Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada was investigating credible allegations
01:10 that the Indian government agents were involved in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep
01:15 Singh Nijjar in Surrey of British Columbia earlier this year.
01:18 Nijjar, who was a Khalistani separatist, was shot dead in his truck on June 18 outside
01:24 a Gurudwara in Surrey.
01:25 He was wanted in India for being the mastermind of the Khalistani Tiger Force or KTF, which
01:31 is a designated terror group in India.
01:33 Godbout also stated that all of Canada's diplomatic offices in India would remain open and the
01:38 department is making decisions about who returns on a case-by-case basis.
01:43 He added that Canada will continue to take all appropriate measures to protect the health
01:48 and safety of all their personnel and to protect its operations in India.
01:52 As per reports, the professional profile of an employee or their personal circumstances
01:56 will be factored in while making decisions.
01:59 In July, India's High Commission in Canada reportedly sought additional security from
02:04 Ottawa for its diplomats after posters advertising a protest over Nijjar's murder appeared with
02:10 threats against Indian diplomats written on them.
02:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]
