New Delhi has suspended visa services for Canadian nationals indefinitely amid heightened tensions between the two countries even as Ottawa said it was temporarily adjusting staff presence in India to ensure the safety of diplomats following threats received on social media. The Indian Consulate in Toronto. (AFP)
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing heightened the tensions and triggered a diplomatic row, and tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats this week.
No formal announcement of the suspension of visa services was made even as BLS International, which runs the visa application centres in Canada, posted a message on its Canadian website in this regard. “Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21st September 2023 [Thursday], Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice.”
An Indian official confirmed the suspension but refused to comment further. “The language is clear and it says what it is intended to say.” This is the first time India has suspended visas since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Indian high commission’s website could not be accessed late on Wednesday for confirmation as it appeared to be down.
The suspension followed India’s advisory on Wednesday asking its citizens in Canada to exercise utmost caution due to growing anti-India activities and “politically-condoned hate crimes”. Indian students have particularly been advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.
Nijjar was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in the town of Surrey in the province of British Columbia. He was the principal figure of the secessionist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the province. SFJ has blamed India for the assassination
A spokesperson for Canada’s foreign ministry told the Canadian newspaper The National Post that some diplomats received threats on social media platforms. “...Global Affairs Canada [the foreign ministry] is assessing its staff complement in India. As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India. All of our locations are staffed by diplomats and locally engaged staff to ensure business and operational continuity.”
Also read: Canada cites threats, says adjusting diplomatic staff presence in India
Canada has sought additional security around its missions including the high commission in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru.
The spokesperson cited the Vienna Convention for safeguarding diplomats and diplomatic premises, and added that they “expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here.”
Security has been enhanced at India’s missions in Canada as well for the senior diplomats after SFJ released the “Kill India” posters in July and then a series of others that blamed New Delhi for Nijjar’s killing on June 18.
India has sought additional security at the high commission in Ottawa and consulates in Toronto and Vancouver after SFJ issued a threat to “shut down Indian missions” on September 25, describing them as “terror houses.”
SFJ, which was banned in India in 2019 because of its pro-Khalistan activities, has threatened Hindus of Indian origin and asked them to leave Canada “for supporting” the country of their origin and “promoting violence” by celebrating Nijjar’s assassination.
UNisopod on September 21st, 2023 at 13:50 UTC »
That seems like a bizarrely extreme response
avidreddithater on September 21st, 2023 at 12:08 UTC »
this is literally only going to harm Indian-Canadians that may want to go to India to visit their family etc
donutloop on September 21st, 2023 at 10:27 UTC »
Submission Statement:
The relations between India and Canada have reached a new low as New Delhi suspends visa services for Canadian nationals indefinitely. The decision follows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations implicating India in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which ignited a diplomatic row between the two countries. The move comes as both nations engage in tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats and issue advisories for their respective citizens residing in the other country due to increased security threats. This marks the first time India has suspended its visa services since the Covid-19 pandemic and adds another layer of complexity to the already strained relations between the two countries. The issue not only impacts diplomatic ties but could also potentially affect a large number of Indian students in Canada, along with trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.