00:00 This is a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy.
00:08 This is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law
00:20 and diplomacy.
00:21 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday voiced concerns about the impact of
00:27 India's actions stating that they are causing significant hardship for millions of people
00:33 in both India and Canada.
00:36 This statement came as Canada confirmed the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from India resulting
00:42 in anticipated delays in visa services.
00:45 Canada labelled India's move as unreasonable and escalatory, responding to New Delhi's
00:51 request to reduce its diplomatic presence in India to achieve partly as India has significantly
00:57 fewer diplomats in Canada.
00:59 Amidst the diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, India raised accusations against
01:05 Canadian diplomats alleging their interference in India's integral affairs.
01:10 This diplomatic tension was triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's public assertion
01:15 that India was implicated to killing Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
01:22 India strongly refuted this claim and in response accused Canada of providing a safe haven for
01:28 terrorists.
01:29 During a debate in the Canadian Parliament, Trudeau stated that his country's national
01:34 security officials had reasonable grounds to suspect the involvement of agents of the
01:40 Indian diplomat and government in the killing of the Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar,
01:47 who served as the President of Surrey's Guru Nanak Singh Gurdwara.
01:51 However, New Delhi has rejected these claims, terming it as absurd.
02:18 It's worth noting that Canada has not yet presented any public evidence to substantiate
02:24 these assertions regarding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
02:27 Nijjar was designated as a terrorist in India and was shot dead in a parking area outside
02:33 a Gurudwara on June 18.
02:36 In his recent controversial remark, Trudeau said, "The Indian government is making it
02:42 unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and
02:47 Canada, and they are doing it by conveying a very basic principle of diplomacy.
02:53 It's something that has very concerned for the well-being of happiness of millions of
02:58 Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent," he said, adding that the expulsion
03:04 of some of the diplomats from Canada will pose difficulties for Indians studying in
03:09 Canada and their well-being and will affect travel and trade between both the countries.
03:15 Of the 2 million Canadians, 5% of the overall population of Canada have Indian heritage.
03:21 India is by far Canada's largest source of global students, making up roughly 40% of
03:26 study permit holders.
03:28 Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement confirming that they
03:33 arranged for the secure departing of 41 Canadian diplomats along with 42 of their dependents
03:39 from India, saying, "This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and
03:45 escalatory.
03:46 India accredited each and every one of the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling."
03:52 And all of those diplomats were carrying out their duties in good faith and to the greater
03:56 benefit of both countries.
03:59 Canada previously maintained a diplomatic presence of 62 diplomats in India, but this
04:04 number has now been reduced to 21.
04:07 The reduction is expected to have an impact on visa services provided in India.
04:12 The Canadian government has stated that they will be compelled to temporarily suspend all
04:18 in-person services at their consulates until further notice.
04:22 This decision will have consequences at service levels for both citizens of countries India
04:28 and Canada.
04:29 In a recent press conference, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolly found herself in an
04:35 awkward situation during a media interaction.
04:38 She was unable to provide a satisfactory response when a journalist questioned about Canada's
04:44 failure to share evidences with India concerning killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh
04:49 Nijal.
04:50 Please watch the video.
04:51 -- them specific information to back your claim.
04:56 So can you clarify, have you shown them the evidence you're basing your claim on and have
05:01 you walked them through that case and shown them how Canada's reached this conclusion?
05:07 We've had numerous conversations with India before the Prime Minister went in front of
05:17 the House and made his declaration.
05:20 This was not a surprise to the government of India.
05:23 -- a surprise, but the evidence, did you show them the evidence?
05:25 And through these different conversations, the Indian officials were made aware of the
05:34 credible allegations.
05:36 And so based on that, India has decided to take their own decisions, which are precedent
05:48 setting, and revoking the diplomatic immunity of 41 diplomats is not only unprecedented,
05:58 but also contrary to international law.
06:01 And so in that sense, because this is so unprecedented and would put so many countries, different
06:09 diplomats around the world in danger, we decide not to reciprocate.
06:14 Okay, so that's a repetition of your statement.
06:18 And thank you.
06:19 I understand what your point is, but you're not answering the question directly on that
06:21 point.
06:22 But you did --
06:23 Tonda, I've answered your question.
06:25 You've asked me the question whether we had conversation and presented evidence.
06:28 If you showed them the evidence, yes.
06:30 I've told you that there were meetings and information was shared.
06:36 So I've answered your question.
06:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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