New Delhi: Amid growing diplomatic tension between India and Canada, Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said on Friday that the remaining Indian diplomats in her country are also ‘clearly on notice’. Jolie said her government would not tolerate any diplomat who would violate the Vienna Convention. When Jolie was asked whether action could be taken against other diplomats too, she said, ‘They are clearly on notice. Of these, 6 have been expelled, including the High Commissioner posted in Ottawa. The other officers are from Toronto and Vancouver. Let us tell you that on October 14, India had expelled 6 Canadian diplomats. Along with this, India had rejected the allegations against Indian diplomats. India had also recalled its 6 diplomats.
compared India with Russia
Comparing India to Russia, Jolie said, ‘We have never seen anything like this in our history. The kind of international repression we have seen in Europe cannot be allowed to occur on Canadian soil. Russia has done this in Germany-Britain and we need to show firmness on this matter. At the root of the entire controversy are allegations that Canada has linked the Indian High Commissioner and diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in the investigation into the murder of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had expressed its strong protest by summoning Stuart Wheeler, the current in-charge of the Canadian High Commission.
Will the role of diplomacy be important?
At a time when the identity of an Indian has been revealed in the charge sheet filed by America regarding the alleged conspiracy to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, Jolie’s statement has not brought any relief for India. Similarly last year, India had to face a dual challenge. But this time, the way Five Eyes has given statements regarding understanding Canada’s stand, it is clear that India will have to be very active at the level of diplomacy.