After Nearly Two Months, India Resumes E-Visa Services For Canadians
India on Wednesday resumed e-visa services to Canadian nationals?after it was suspended for nearly two months, following the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
India had halted its visa services for Canadians until "further notice" in September, citing operational reasons.
Why visa services were suspended?
The move was a retaliatory measure after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that "agents of the Indian government" were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
However, in October, India decided to resume visa services in Canada for four categories after a considered review of the security situation, which "takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard".
Entry visa, business visa, medical visa and conference visa were four categories in which India decided to resume visa services in Canada with effect from October 26.
How India-Canada ties strained
The bilateral ties between India and Canada that have been straining over the years hit rock bottom in September over the killing of Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.
Trudeau, during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, claimed his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.
What India did in response?
India had rejected the allegations as "absurd and motivated" and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move over Canada's decision.
India also pointed out that over the years, Canada has become the safe haven for fugitives, including designated terrorists and gangsters.
Last week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India is not ruling out an investigation into Canada's allegations about the killing of the Khalistani separatist but wants Ottawa to provide evidence to back its claims.
"If you have a reason to make such an allegation, please share the evidence with us. We are not ruling out an investigation and looking at anything which they may have to offer. They haven't done so," Jaishankar, said during an interaction in London.
Jaishankar also said Canadian politics has given space to violent and extreme political opinions which advocate separatism from India, including through violent means.
"These people have been accommodated in Canadian politics. They are given the freedom to articulate their views," he said.
Jaishankar said that freedom of speech and freedom of expression comes with a certain responsibility, and the misuse of those freedoms and the toleration of that misuse for political purposes would be very wrong, referring to the pro-Khalistani activities in Canada.
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