In robust disapproval, former Indian diplomats have termed Canadian authorities’ surveillance of Indian diplomats posted there as atrocious, including that they violated worldwide regulation such because the Vienna Conference.
JK Tripathi, a former diplomat, informed ANI, that, “No nation has the facility to do it…however the Canadian authorities has executed it and that is the rarest of uncommon instances of violation of worldwide regulation in response to the Vienna Conference. They’ve even gone as much as the extent of accusing the Union Dwelling Minister of being the mastermind behind that and now they’ve put India among the many listing of four international locations who’re cyber threats to Canada….”
The Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations (1961) is established to outline basic rules and phrases governing how international locations should deal with one another’s diplomatic representatives.
A key precept of the Conference is diplomatic immunity. It grants diplomats exemption from sure legal guidelines and taxes within the host nation the place they’re posted. It ensures that diplomats can fulfill their duties with out concern, risk, or intimidation.
“…so in a method, India has been declared as an enemy state by Canada, which may be very disturbing and severe,” mentioned Tripathi.
Virendra Gupta, one other former diplomat, mentioned this motion of Canada merited a particularly robust response from the Indian authorities.
“Merely criticising Canada is just not sufficient…Canada has crossed all the boundaries of decency and regular diplomatic behaviour…,” Gupta informed ANI.
In response to Article 29 of the Conference, diplomats aren’t topic to arrest or detention. The host nation should accord the diplomatic agent the suitable degree of respect and is answerable for endeavor all needed measures to forestall any type of hurt or violation to the diplomat’s individual, liberty, or dignity.
The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) introduced on Saturday that India has lodged a proper protest with the Canadian authorities after revelations that its consular officers in Canada had been subjected to audio and video surveillance. The MEA condemned these actions as “flagrant violations” of diplomatic and consular conventions.
Throughout a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal acknowledged that some Indian consular officers had been just lately knowledgeable by the Canadian authorities concerning the ongoing surveillance. Jaiswal criticized Canada for making an attempt to justify its actions by citing technicalities, arguing that such justifications can’t excuse what he described as harassment and intimidation of Indian diplomatic personnel.
Additionally, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) strongly protested towards latest allegations made by the Canadian authorities towards Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah’s purported involvement within the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The MEA described these allegations as “absurd and baseless” and lodged a proper protest towards Canada.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal acknowledged {that a} “diplomatic word” was handed to a consultant of the Canadian Excessive Fee on Friday, conveying India’s robust objections.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament final yr that there have been “credible allegations” of India’s involvement within the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India has firmly denied all such allegations, labelling them as “absurd” and “motivated,” whereas accusing Canada of offering a haven for extremist and anti-India parts.
