India Expels 6 Canadian Diplomats Hours After Withdrawing Its Envoy to Canada

It termed the move as prudent and motivated by Canada's insidious actions. The MEA in a statement says, "the Government of India has decided to expel the following 6 Canadian Diplomats". 

Hours after deciding to withdraw its High Commissioner and other "targeted diplomats" and officials from Canada, India on Monday expelled six Canadian diplomats. This was the reason India has cited for withdrawing its High Commissioner and other officials from Canada, said the country has continued its "hostility" towards it with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's remarks.

It termed the move as prudent and motivated by Canada's insidious actions. The MEA in a statement says, "the Government of India has decided to expel the following 6 Canadian Diplomats". 
1. Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner
2. Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner
3. Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary
4. Ian Ross David Trites, First Secretary
5. Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary
6. Paula Orjuela, First Secretary

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They have been asked to leave India by or before 11.59 p.m. on Saturday (October 19). This decision was communicated to Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler who was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) in New Delhi and was informed that the "baseless targeting" of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable. 

It emphasized that in an environment of communalism and terrorism, the dealings of the Trudeau Government threatened their safety. We have lost confidence in the ability of the present Canadian Government to protect them. Accordingly, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials," a statement read.

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"It was also reported that India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the Trudeau Government's support for extremism, violence, and separatism against India," it added. India had issued a strongly-worded statement earlier in the day, referring to the diplomatic communication received from Canada on Sunday-suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats are 'persons of interest' in a matter related to an investigation in that country-as "preposterous imputations".

New Delhi again reiterated the claim that the Trudeau government "has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada".

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