The provision of visas in Canada has been halted by India, leading to a further escalation in the disagreement surrounding the death of a Canadian citizen.
The visa processing center in Canada for India has halted its services on Thursday due to an escalating dispute between the two countries. This comes after the Canadian leader suggested that India might have played a role in the murder of a Canadian citizen.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament on Monday that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been wanted by India for years and was gunned down in June outside the temple he led.
Canada also removed an Indian diplomat, and India reciprocated by removing a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday. India deemed the allegations being investigated in Canada as ridiculous and an effort to divert attention from the fact that Nijjar and other wanted individuals are present in Canada.
The BLS Indian Visa Application Center in Canada has announced that, starting from September 21, Indian visa services will be temporarily suspended until further notice. The center did not provide any additional information regarding the reasons for this suspension. BLS is the agency responsible for handling visa applications for India.
The External Affairs Ministry of India refrained from providing an immediate comment.
The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi has stated that its consulates in India remain operational and are actively delivering services. However, the safety of the staff is currently under evaluation.
“I cannot reword”
Canada is requesting that India ensures the safety of its diplomats and consular officers in accordance with the Vienna conventions.
According to India’s Bureau of Immigration, Canada had the fourth largest number of tourists visiting India in 2021, with a total of 80,000 Canadian visitors.
Canada is a popular choice among Indians, particularly students. Approximately 300,000 Indians were enrolled in higher education in Canada in 2022.
On Wednesday, India’s External Affairs Ministry issued an updated travel advisory urging its citizens traveling in Canada and especially those studying in the North American country to be cautious because of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes.”
The ministry advised Indians to refrain from visiting locations in Canada that have been specifically targeted by threats towards Indian diplomats and members of the Indian community who are against anti-India activities.
At the time of his death, Nijjar was involved in coordinating an unofficial vote within the Sikh community regarding their desire for independence from India. Despite India’s claim that he was a terrorist, Nijjar had refuted these allegations.
Demands for an independent Sikh homeland, known as Khalistan, started as an insurgency in India’s Punjab state in the 1970s that was crushed in an Indian government crackdown that killed thousands. The movement has since lost much of its political power but still has supporters in Punjab, where Sikhs form a majority, as well as among the sizable overseas Sikh diaspora.
On Wednesday, India’s National Investigation Agency announced that it has escalated its efforts to suppress Sikh insurgents active within the country.
The announcement stated that a reward of up to 1 million rupees ($12,000) would be given to anyone providing information that leads to the capture of five rebels. It is suspected that one of these rebels is currently located in the neighboring country of Pakistan.
The agency alleged that they had been demanding money from businesses on behalf of a prohibited Sikh group, the Babbar Khalsa International, and were involved in deliberate killings in India. In a statement, the agency mentioned that they had also set up a network of agents in different nations to advance their terrorist actions in India, without specifying any particular country.
Pakistan denies India’s accusation of supporting insurgencies in Kashmir and Punjab.
