NEW DELHI: India has told Canada that it must repatriate 41 diplomats by Oct 10 as a diplomatic dispute between the two nations over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader deepens, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to confirm the report of the expulsions, but said Ottawa was not looking to escalate the dispute.

“We’re taking this extremely seriously, but we’re going to continue to engage responsibly and constructively within with the government of India,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Bilateral ties have become seriously strained over Canadian suspicion that Indian government agents had a role in the June murder in Canada of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who India had labeled a “terrorist”.

PM Trudeau says Ottawa not looking to escalate diplomatic spat

India has dismissed the allegation as absurd.

The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the Indian demand, said New Delhi had threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of those diplomats told to leave who remained after Oct 10.

Canada has 62 diplomats in India and India had said that the total should be reduced by 41, the newspaper said.

Private talks

Hours after New Delhi’s demand, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said his country wants private talks with India to resolve the diplomatic dispute over the murder of the Sikh separatist leader.

“We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats’ safety very seriously and we will continue to engage privately because we think diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,” Joly told reporters.

India suspended new visas for Canadians on Sept 22 and asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said earlier there was a “climate of violence” and an “atmosphere of intimidation” against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2023