In the midst of escalating tensions, India temporarily halts visa services for Canadian citizens. The diplomatic row escalated this week after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Amid escalating tensions, New Delhi has indefinitely suspended visa services for Canadian nationals. Meanwhile, Ottawa has announced temporary adjustments to its diplomatic staff presence in India to ensure their safety, citing threats received on social media.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation of Indian involvement in the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar exacerbated tensions and ignited a diplomatic conflict, resulting in reciprocal expulsions of senior diplomats this week.
Although there has been no official announcement of the suspension of visa services, BLS International, responsible for managing visa application centers in Canada, has posted a message on its Canadian website, stating, “Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice, effective September 21, 2023.”
An Indian official verified the suspension but declined to provide additional comments, stating, “The language is clear, and it conveys its intended message.” This marks the first instance of India suspending visas since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Late on Wednesday, attempts to access the Indian High Commission’s website were unsuccessful, as it appeared to be experiencing technical difficulties.
This suspension followed India’s advisory issued on Wednesday, urging its citizens in Canada to exercise extreme caution in light of escalating anti-India activities and “politically-condoned hate crimes.” Specifically, Indian students have been advised to be highly vigilant and exercise utmost caution.
Nijjar met his tragic end in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, which he presided over in Surrey, located in the province of British Columbia. He was a prominent figure within the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the province, and SFJ has squarely accused India of his assassination.
A spokesperson from Canada’s foreign ministry shared with The National Post that some diplomats had received threats on social media platforms. They stated, “Global Affairs Canada is currently evaluating its staffing levels in India. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we have made temporary adjustments to our staff presence in India. All our facilities are managed by diplomats and locally hired staff to ensure the continuation of our operations and services.”
Canada has formally requested heightened security measures for its diplomatic missions, including the high commission in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru.
The spokesperson invoked the Vienna Convention, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding diplomats and diplomatic premises. They added, “We anticipate that India will ensure the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we do for theirs in Canada.”
In response to escalating tensions, India has also bolstered security measures at its missions in Canada, particularly for senior diplomats, following the release of provocative “Kill India” posters by SFJ in July and subsequent materials that accused New Delhi of being involved in Nijjar’s assassination on June 18.
India has formally requested heightened security measures for its high commission in Ottawa and consulates in Toronto and Vancouver. This move comes in response to a threat issued by SFJ, who have stated their intent to “shut down Indian missions” on September 25, labeling them as “terror houses.”
SFJ, a group banned in India in 2019 due to its pro-Khalistan activities, has issued threats against Hindus of Indian origin. They have called on this community to depart Canada, accusing them of supporting their country of origin and purportedly “promoting violence” by commemorating Nijjar’s assassination.
