By Sushmita Nibandhe
September 26, 2023
- India has suspended the issuance of new visas, citing security threats as the primary reason.
- This move comes after Canada accused India of involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist, a claim India denies, stating that Canada has not shared any evidence related to the murder.
The recent dispute between India and Canada has escalated significantly. The conflict began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist Harshdeep Singh Nijjar. Reports indicate that Nijjar was killed in British Columbia, Canada, on June 18, 2023. Sources have confirmed that the NIA will designate Nijjar as a pro-Khalistani terrorist in 2020.
India promptly dismissed these allegations, describing them as baseless and lacking evidence. Nonetheless, the Canadian government issued a statement asserting that they possessed credible evidence implicating India’s hand in Nijjar’s murder. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, said, “We have not received any such information regarding this specific matter.”
Canada’s Defense Minister, Bill Blair, concentrated on enhancing the relationship between India and Canada. Simultaneously, Jai Bhagwan Goyal, the working president of the United Hindu Front and a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), issued a statement: “If the Prime Minister of Canada harbors such affection for Khalistanis, why not consider partitioning a portion of Canada to establish a new Khalistan nation?” The conflict escalated further when Canada recalled an Indian diplomat. In response, India reciprocated by recalling a Canadian diplomat.
Amidst this growing rift, Hindu Canadians have voiced their increasing concerns about receiving threats to return to India. Canadian leader Chandra Arya, of Indian origin, encouraged the Hindu-Canadian community to remain calm and vigilant. Notably, threats have also been directed at Indian NRIs. Indian students and workers in Canada have also expressed their concerns about the situation.
Currently, India has taken the step of not issuing visas to Canadian tourists and residents due to the widening rift between the two countries. BLS International, India’s visa processing center in Canada, ceased operations on September 21st, citing operational concerns. This cessation affects centers in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed the decision to halt all visa categories, including e-visas, for Canadian citizens who lack travel or work visas, as well as those applying for Indian visas. It has also informed some P5 nations about its stance on these matters, further escalating the diplomatic tensions between the two nations. However, Indian nationals with valid visas and Indian students studying in Canada are still permitted to travel to India.
Canadian officials are still granting visas to Indian nationals who wish to enter Canada, despite the suspension of visa issuance to all Canadian citizens by India’s foreign ministry, regardless of their citizenship status. However, Indian students and nationals are being advised to exercise caution and stay vigilant as the situation may deteriorate.
It will be interesting to watch how India and Canada, despite being at loggerheads, try to resolve the issue since the relationship between these two countries is at stake.
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