Will India-Canada relations become like India-Pakistan relations? Because, relations between India and Canada have never been at such a low level right now. Tensions increased, leading to the expulsion and recall of diplomats.
It all started last year when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the murder of Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar. After this, relations between India and Canada began to deteriorate.
However, recently, the Canadian police directly blamed Indian diplomatic and consular officials for the incident in their investigation report. Canada has since expelled six Indian diplomats.
India has denied Canada’s accusations, calling them absurd. India recalled several diplomats, including High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma, saying it had no confidence in Trudeau’s government.
But in addition, it is also necessary to pay attention to the statement of Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. In fact, Canada wants to revoke the diplomatic immunity granted to six Indian diplomats. Because Canada claims to have conclusive evidence that six Indian diplomats are “stakeholders” in Nijar’s case. A person of interest is a person who comes to the attention of an investigative agency and wants to interrogate him.
What does Canada want?
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the Canadian government has asked India to waive the diplomatic immunity of six diplomats so that investigative agencies can interrogate them on charges of alleged involvement in criminal activities.
He said India failed to do so and six diplomats had to be expelled.
Jolly said we will not remain silent when agents from certain countries seek to threaten, harass and murder Canadian citizens.
In response to the action, India also expelled six Canadian diplomats. The Canadian diplomats have been given until October 19 to leave India.
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But what is diplomatic immunity?
Diplomatic immunity refers to diplomatic immunity. This is a protective shield. Any official representing his country abroad enjoys diplomatic immunity, which gives him legal protection abroad.
This tradition of diplomatic immunity is thought to be thousands of years old. This was given to the messengers who used to go to other countries with messages from the king.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, diplomatic immunity developed further in the Roman Empire. This provided protection to the messenger even during war.
In today’s era, the diplomatic immunity enjoyed by diplomats and high commissioners stationed abroad began with the 1961 Vienna Convention.
What is the Vienna Convention?
187 countries, including India, have agreed to the Vienna Convention. It said all “diplomatic representatives”, including diplomatic personnel, administrative, technical and service staff, would be immune from criminal prosecution.
Diplomats stationed abroad enjoy immunity in criminal and civil cases, provided the case does not involve property or funds. This diplomatic immunity applies to diplomats and their families.
Diplomats are divided according to their jobs. They work in embassies, consulates and international organizations. Every country has embassies and consulates in other countries. Embassies and consulates of various countries in India are located in New Delhi. The chief official of any embassy is the ambassador or high commissioner.
There can be multiple consulates at the same time. According to the Vienna Convention, every diplomat accredited to a consulate enjoys diplomatic immunity. But in serious criminal cases, family members of diplomats are not immune.
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Will diplomatic immunity end?
Article 9 of the Vienna Convention stipulates that any country may revoke the immunity granted to the head of its diplomatic staff or any member of its diplomatic staff at any time.
Any State may revoke the immunity of a Head of State or any member of the diplomatic staff if it considers that he or she has violated privileges or taken advantage of diplomatic immunity.
What does ending diplomatic immunity mean?
Diplomatic immunity protects diplomats abroad from arrest under all circumstances. Diplomats of any country cannot be arrested or detained even if they commit crimes.
Article 29 of the Vienna Convention stipulates that diplomatic representatives may not be detained or arrested. In addition, protecting diplomats is also the greatest responsibility.
Under diplomatic immunity, diplomats are immune from arrest or detention in criminal and civil cases.
Not only that, according to Article 22 of the Vienna Convention, the property of any diplomatic mission may not be seized or searched. The mission’s documents cannot even be inspected.
Ending diplomatic immunity would mean diplomats would once again become ordinary citizens. Their immunity from detention or arrest in civil and criminal cases would also be lifted.
Also read: ‘The Trudeau government’s allegations are very serious…’ Now the US has also jumped into the India-Canada spat.
What’s going on?
The entire incident is related to the murder of Khalistani supporter Hardeep Singh Nijar. Nijar was declared a terrorist by India despite being a Canadian citizen. He was shot and killed near the Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year.
On September 18 last year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in Nijjar’s murder.
However, India has always denied these claims by Canada and considered them absurd and baseless. On Monday, Canadian police used their position to collect information directly or through agents in Indian diplomatic and consular missions. This means that Canada directly sent the Indian diplomats to the dock. Later, Trudeau repeated the same accusation at a press conference.
But the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied this and made it clear that Trudeau did this for vote bank politics. India also recalled High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma after Canada made the allegations. India has made it clear that they now do not trust the current Canadian government.
