No 'extra screening for fliers to India', Canada lifts new security measures, days after announcing it
Amid the ongoing diplomatic tensions, Canada has said that the recently announced 'extra screening measures for travellers to India' have been lifted. Canadian Minister of Transport Anita Anand said the measures were "out of an abundance of caution" and have been lifted.
No extra screening for passengers to India
Earlier, on Monday, Anand had said that her ministry would temporarily implement additional security screening for travellers to India.
According to a Canadian government official who spoke to CBC News, the additional measures would be conducted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), the agency responsible for screening passengers and their baggage before they enter restricted areas in airports.
Why was extra screening lifted?
While the reason for the change in policy has not been revealed, some Canadian media reports and claims on social media stated that the additional security screening had resulted in many travellers experiencing longer wait times at airports.
Why was extra screening announced
Notably, Canadian authorities had also not explained the reason for the extra screening measures for travellers to India. However, over the past year, bilateral ties have been at an all-time low.?Last month, Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had warned Sikhs against flying on Air India flights from November 1-19.?
Air India flight 182 bombing
Decades ago, Canada was also the victim of one of the worst terror attacks in history when Khalistani terrorists blew up Air India Flight 182 mid-air while it was on its way from Montreal to Mumbai. All 329 onboard, including passengers and crew members, lost their lives in the terror attack carried out by Babbar Khalsa on 23 June 1985. The majority of those killed were Canadian citizens of Indian origin.
India-Canada row over Khalistan
India has long accused Canada of harbouring Khalistani terrorists, including those responsible for the Air India Kanishka bombing, for which only one person, Inderjit Singh Reyat, was ever convicted.
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