India and Canada Need to Normalise Relations: UK PM

New Delhi: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday evening spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, underscoring the need for de-escalation of the diplomatic row between Canada and India. According to a 10 Downing Street statement, Mr Trudeau updated Mr Sunak on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India and spoke about the current situation.

“The Prime Minister spoke to the Canadian Prime Minister this evening. Mr Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Mr Trudeau on the next steps,” said a statement from the UK PM’s office.

The conversation took place against the backdrop of the Canadian PM making allegations against India for carrying out the killing of its citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who is a wanted terrorist in India. Canada has so far not provided any concrete evidence to India to back its allegations.

The Canadian Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa said in a statement that during their discussions, the two Prime Ministers discussed the need to manage global challenges in close partnership and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law.

“Mr Trudeau provided an update on the current situation between Canada and India. The leaders emphasised respect for the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations and the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens. They underscored the importance of de-escalation in this context. Mr Trudeau and Mr Sunak agreed to remain in close contact and to continue working together to tackle global issues,” said Mr Trudeau’s office.