India asks Canada to Recall its Diplomats; Family of Sikh Activist Calls for Inquest into Midlands Hospital Death

In response to Canada’s accusation over Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, on 3 Oct, New Delhi told Ottawa to remove 41 of its 62 Canadian diplomats from India by 10 Oct. Earlier, India had imposed a visa ban for Canadians. The Canadian government reportedly evacuated a majority of its diplomats in India. Indians will suffer. Over 300,000 students travel to Canada every year for higher education. Now their Visa processing time will be delayed, admissions will end up in no-shows, and families who often take loans will lose money. This will affect Panjab, as 70% of Indian international students are from the state. In another case of the aftereffects of Trudeau’s statement, the family of UK Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda, who died in a Birmingham hospital after a short illness this summer, is seeking a formal inquest into his death from the chief coroner for England and Wales through barrister Michael Polak. Khanda’s cause of death was officially recorded as leukemia.