OTTAWA, Aug 19: A Canadian man whose diplomatic posting to India was stalled by security concerns threatened Thursday to sue the government to get reinstated. Bhupinder Liddar was appointed consul general to India two years ago, but his assignment was delayed after Canada’s spy agency refused to give him the necessary security clearance, his lawyer Janice Payne told AFP.

Liddar appealed to Canada’s Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), which could not substantiate the Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s concerns, Payne said.

The committee’s report has not been made public, but the findings were backed by deputy foreign affairs minister Peter Harder, who has since issued Liddar a security clearance, she said.

The matter remains unresolved and Liddar is now threatening to sue for a “significant” sum for loss of income and damage to his reputation if he is not reinstated by September, Payne said.

“We’re insisting that he be sent (to India) and that his appointment be restarted so that he serves a full three-year term, but we’re waiting to hear back,” Payne said.

Foreign affairs department spokesperson Rodney Moore would only confirm that the government is in discussions with Liddar and his lawyer. —AFP