What happened?

India and Canada find themselves in a diplomatic standoff. The relations nosedived when Justin Trudeau accused India of “allegedly being involved” in the killing of the Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. This statement led to mutual recall of some diplomats and India suspended visa services in Canada.

However, the situation has escalated with Canada's latest claim that India has unilaterally withdrawn the diplomatic immunity of Canadian diplomats in India, violating the Vienna Convention. It’s an international treaty that provides a framework for the conduct of diplomatic relations between independent countries.

Why does it matter?

At the heart of this conflict is the haven that "terrorists and extremist elements" have found in Canada, stated Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Additionally, Canada has warned of delays in visa processing. This would be a setback for Canada, a popular destination for many Indian students who aim to study and eventually settle there. 

The Free Trade Agreement between them has also been stalled.

What are the arguments from both countries?

Side 1: India
Dr. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, explained that owing to tense relations, it's fair to have an equal number of diplomats (parity principle) in both New Delhi and Ottawa. Dr. Jaishankar also claimed that Canadian diplomats were interfering in India’s internal affairs, but did not disclose further details. Such interference violates the Convention.

India’s actions align with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention. As it states, the receiving state can determine the reasonable size of foreign missions based on their circumstances and needs. This is different from Canada’s claim that India cancelled the legal immunity for Canadian diplomats. India didn't declare these diplomats as persona non grata i.e. unwelcome people.

India emphasises the need to address threats against Indian diplomats, as Khalistani supporters have issued posters depicting them as targets. 

Interestingly, India isn’t the first to take such an action. In 2017, Russia and the United States asked for each other’s diplomats to be recalled on the principle of parity, following their deteriorating relations.

Side 2: Canada and its allies

Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly argues that India's unilateral decision violates the Vienna Convention. She stressed that all the diplomats were officially recognised, and were carrying out their duties in good faith. This arbitrary revocation threatens their safety.

She reiterated their commitment to a legitimate investigation into the killing of Mr Nijjar, given he was a Canadian citizen. Thus, Canada’s priorities continue to be the protection of Canadians, and the defence of its sovereignty.

Canada’s Five Eyes allies have supported its claims. This intelligence-sharing alliance includes the US, UK, New Zealand, Canada and Australia. It has urged India to not reduce Canada’s diplomatic presence and cooperate with the Canadian investigation. Nevertheless, the UK and US also wish to maintain a balanced relationship with India, viewing it as a counterbalance to China.

What's next?

Dr. Jaishankar has indicated that India will resume issuing visas to Canadian nationals once the security of Indian diplomats in Ottawa is assured. 

Un-charted

SC: Manual Scavenging must be eliminated

According to government data, this chart shows that 347 people have died in India while cleaning sewers and septic tanks, in the last five years.

This inhuman problem persists despite being banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act of 2013. The Act made it illegal to employ people for cleaning or handling human waste manually.

Thus, the Supreme Court this week directed the Union and state governments to ensure complete eradication of manual scavenging. It also ordered the compensation for sewer deaths to be increased to Rs 30 lakh.

SC stated that the State is duty-bound to ensure that those trapped in inhuman conditions are rehabilitated. And must restore their constitutional rights of equality, dignity and fraternity.

To address this issue, the government had launched the 'National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)' scheme in 2022. It aims to eliminate deaths related to manual scavenging and ensure that all sanitation work is carried out by trained professionals. Prevent direct contact with human waste by sanitation workers. And provide alternative jobs to these workers.

The next SC hearing is scheduled for February 2024, to monitor the progress made.

Bonus Section

Boosting productivity with the 2-Minute Rule

David Allen talks about a productivity rule in his book, Getting Things Done.  The 2- minute rule states: if a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it right away. Why? Because it'll help combat procrastination by taking immediate action on small tasks. This prevents tasks from accumulating and promotes efficiency.

Here are some actionable ways to incorporate this technique into your daily routine:

Respond to emails and messages quickly:  If you get an email that can be addressed in two minutes or less, reply immediately. This could be confirming a meeting time, answering a quick question, or providing brief feedback.

Organise your workplace: Maintain a tidy workspace, either physical or digital, to improve concentration and reduce distractions.

Such small accomplishments give you a sense of control and achievement.

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Before you go, check out this video on India-Canada relations, where I cover the issue in detail:

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