Amid Escalating Diplomatic Row, India Suspends Visa Services For Canadian Nationals
India suspends visa services in Canada for 21 months. The move follows the death of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The suspension is due to 'operational reasons'.
The diplomatic ties that strained over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar took another turn on Thursday after India announced a suspension of visa services in Canada.
"Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates," a notification on the official website of 'India Visa Application Center Canada', stated.
Important notice from Indian Mission | "Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates," India Visa Application Center Canada says. pic.twitter.com/hQz296ewKC
¡ª ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2023
What advisory to Indian citizens says
On Wednesday, India had issued an advisory and told its citizens to avoid travelling to parts of Canada.
AP
"Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda," a foreign ministry statement said, advising citizens to "avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents".
"In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents," the statement said.
AP
How Canada responded
The Canadian government had rejected the travel advisory, saying it is one of the safest countries in the world, and called for calm amid the escalating diplomatic row between the two nations over the killing Nijjar.
Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller sought to reassure Indian nationals on Wednesday that it is safe to travel to the country even as a leader of the Sikh separatist movement banned in India has announced plans for rallies in Canadian cities on Monday that seek the closing of New Delhi's diplomatic missions here, The Globe and Mail newspaper reported.
Canada is a safe country
"Look, I think everyone knows Canada is a safe country and given the events of the last two or three days and the seriousness of the allegations that, it's important for everyone to stay calm," Miller said.
REUTERS
"Canada, by any standard, is one of the safest, if not the safest, countries in the world that is governed by the rule of law. So, I think people should read that statement for what it is," Miller said.
He acknowledged that Canadian allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian government agents in killing a Khalistani separatist have heightened tensions with the Indian government.
"At the same time, emotions are running high, and we've asked everyone just to stay calm given the seriousness of the allegations," he added.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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