Justin Trudeau

"The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," a government statement read. Justin Trudeau updated Rishi Sunak on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India, and both leaders "agreed to remain in contact on the next steps".

Trudeau was speaking as he arrived to attend the Liberal caucus meeting here on Tuesday, in wake of India seeking removal of 41 diplomats by October 10, following which it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, the CBC reported.

He reacted after the Canadian government made it compulsory for online streaming platforms to register with the government for "regulatory controls".

Addressing a press conference in Montreal on Thursday, the Prime Minister said "Canada is still committed to building closer ties with India", The National Post newspaper reported. “India is a growing economic power and important geopolitical player. And as we presented with our Indo-Pacific strategy, just last year, we’re very serious about building closer ties with India,” he told reporters.

In a statement on Wednesday, Trudeau said: "This is a mistake that deeply embarrassed parliament and Canada," the BBC reported.

Jaishankar made the remarks during a conversation at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York after his address at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Replying to a query during a regular press briefing on Monday, spokesman for the US State Department Matthew Miller said: "We remain in close contact with our Canadian partners, as the Secretary (Antony Blinken) said on Friday (September 22). We believe it’s critical that Canada’s investigation proceed and that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

In the days since Trudeau made the explosive announcement, his allies in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance provided seemingly boilerplate public statements, all stopping far short of full-throated support, the BBC reported.

This development necessitates understanding how the Indian diaspora in Canada has evolved and come to affect not only bilateral associations, but also polarise the Canadian Indian community to the extent of inciting concern by governments.

The Khalistani movement had some presence in Canada in the 1970s, but it took root here during Pierre Trudeau’s time as Prime Minister when Parmar escaped to Canada after killing four policemen in India.