Toronto. Canada on Thursday welcomed India’s decision to restore some visa services to the country amid a diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada said this is a ‘good sign’ after a ‘worrisome time’ for many Canadians.
The High Commission of India in Canada said on Wednesday that it will resume some categories of visa services from Thursday for Canadian citizens applying from Canada and other countries. The move comes more than a month after visa services for Canadian citizens were suspended amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist Nijjar.
Posted on social media
In a press release posted on its social media account, the Ottawa-based Indian High Commission said, ‘After reviewing the security situation in view of some recent measures taken by Canada in this regard, it has been decided that entry visas from October 26. , visa services will be resumed for business visa, medical visa and conference visa categories.
Last month, tensions ran high
Tensions between India and Canada escalated last month following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of the ‘possible’ involvement of an Indian agent in the June 18 killing of Nijjar in British Columbia province. After this, services for Canadian citizens in Canada and other countries were suspended. India declared Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India rejected Trudeau’s allegations as ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated by vested interests’.
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“A good sign,” said Immigration Minister Mark Miller
Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller on Wednesday called India’s move a “good sign” after a “concerned time” for many Canadians. CTV News quoted Miller as saying, ‘We feel that services should not be suspended at all.’ “The really worrisome diplomatic situation with India has created a lot of fear in many communities,” he said.
Sikh leader Harjit Sajjan also praised
Emergency Management Minister and Sikh leader Harjit Sajjan said the resumption of the visa process was good news, but he would not speculate on what message New Delhi was trying to send. “Good to know that they have restored it (services),” Sajjan told reporters. It would have been better if he had not taken this step. He said it is important that Indians and Canadians can travel for events such as weddings and funerals. He said the police are investigating the murder case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Ottawa still wants India’s help in the matter.
GAC said- People will get facility
Marilyn Guerremont, spokeswoman for Global Affairs Canada (GAC), which manages the country’s diplomatic and consular affairs, told CBC News that GAC is aware of India’s decision to resume some visa services for Canadians. “Canada and India have important people-to-people ties and the resumption of visa services through India will make it easier for families and businesses to travel between the two countries,” he said.
The NADA-India Business Council said in a statement that this is a “promising step” for trade relations. Council chief Victor Thomas said: ‘It is also a positive sign that both governments have expressed their support for bilateral trade and investment in these unusual times.’
India recalled 41 diplomats
A few days before this incident, Canada had recalled 41 of its diplomats from India. Before Trudeau’s accusations escalated tensions between Canada and India, New Delhi publicly condemned protests by Sikh separatist groups outside its diplomatic mission in Canada. He also criticized posters that offered cash rewards in exchange for home addresses of Indian diplomats.
India formally called on Canada to better fulfill its duty to protect foreign diplomats. India also asked Canada to take strict action against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil.
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Tags: Canada, Canada News, India, Justin Trudeau, PM Modi, Social media, Visa
First published: October 26, 2023, 15:23 IST