Killing of Sikh separatist: India tells Canada to withdraw over 40 diplomatic staff, reports say

Killing of Sikh separatist: India tells Canada to withdraw over 40 diplomatic staff, reports say

The Indian government has asked Canada to withdraw over 40 of its diplomats from the country, the Financial Times has reported.

New Delhi has set a deadline of October 10 for the repatriation, reads the report.

Canada has 62 diplomats in India, and earlier, New Delhi had said the total number should be reduced by 41, the report said.

India had asked Canada to curtail its diplomatic presence in the country as relations between the two countries plunged to the lowest point following Ottawa's allegations against New Delhi over the killing of a Khalistani separatist on Canadian soil.

However, India has outright rejected the claim, calling it absurd.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently said there was a "climate of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada.