Diplomatic parity

INVOKING the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, India has justified its insistence on diplomatic parity with Canada in view of the current state of bilateral relations and concerns about the ‘continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel’. New Delhi has also rejected Ottawa’s contention that the ‘unilateral revocation of the diplomatic privilege and immunity is contrary to international law’ and a violation of the 1961 Convention. The verbal duel comes days after Canada withdrew 41 of its diplomats from India, as sought by the latter.

The Convention spells out diplomatic representatives’ privileges and immunities with the objective of promoting friendly relations among nations. Amid the row sparked by Canada’s allegations about the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India has relied on the Convention’s Article 11.1: ‘In the absence of a specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal…’

It’s laudable that despite the strained ties, New Delhi is keen to resume visa services for Canadians at the earliest, provided there is progress in terms of the safety of its diplomats in the Maple Country. This has been a matter of grave concern ever since posters with pictures and names of two Indian envoys surfaced in Canada in July; both were vilified as Nijjar’s killers and there was a clamour for vengeance. Ottawa has let Delhi down by not taking these threats seriously, thus violating the Convention’s Article 29, which states that ‘the receiving State shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his (diplomatic agent’s) person, freedom or dignity.’ The onus is on Canada, which is being blindly backed by the US and the UK, to adhere to international law and the Vienna Convention. 

#Canada