‘Implementation of diplomatic parity not violation of int’l norms’: India to Canada

Just hours after Canada scaled back its diplomatic presence in India, leading to the suspension of visa and in-person consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai, India dismissed any insinuation that the move to establish diplomatic parity was in violation of international norms. In a statement released on Friday, the ministry of external affairs stated, “We acknowledge the statement made by the Canadian government on October 19 concerning their diplomatic presence in India. Given the state of our bilateral relations, the significantly higher number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India, and their ongoing involvement in our internal matters, it is justifiable to seek diplomatic parity in both New Delhi and Ottawa.”