Canadian diplomats are misusing their powers in different consulates across Chandigarh and other areas of Punjab to grant visas to people with known criminal antecedents who are Khalistani supporters, CNN-News18 has reported citing its top government sources.

Sources told the media outlet that the diplomats have gone very soft on visas to people despite knowing their antecedents. They added that the visas are being extended just to support the Khalistan cause so that the momentum can gain maximum strength.

“The Canadian diplomats have done this deliberately and the idea was very clear — to give visa to take certain individuals out of India. Even people those who were involved in cases were given visa and sent to Canada by these diplomats,” CNN-News18 quoted its sources as saying.

Earlier on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India invoked diplomatic parity due to concerns over continuous interference in its internal affairs by Canadian personnel.