21-9-203 (NEW DELHI) India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens as diplomatic tensions between the two countries escalate over the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader.
The private agency BLS International, hired for initial visa application scrutiny for Canadians, announced the suspension on its website, citing “operational reasons” and stating that Indian visa services would remain suspended until further notice, effective from September 21, 2023.
This move follows an advisory issued by the Indian government warning its citizens in Canada against traveling to areas prone to anti-India activities.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated when Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat on Monday, alleging his involvement in the assassination of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In retaliation, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat on Tuesday, citing concerns over Canadian diplomats’ interference in India’s internal affairs and their alleged involvement in anti-India activities.
While Canada’s close allies have not publicly criticized the Indian government, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed Parliament on Monday of “credible allegations” of the “agents of the government of India” potentially being involved in Nijjar’s killing.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson confirmed that trade talks with the Indian government would continue unaffected.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated that Britain would “listen very, very carefully to the serious concerns that have been raised by Canada,” without specifically mentioning India.
Reports from The Washington Post claimed that Trudeau had attempted to secure a joint statement from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, including the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, to condemn India ahead of the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi. However, the United States and other nations reportedly rejected this proposal.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denied these claims, emphasizing that the United States was deeply concerned about the matter and encouraged Indian officials to cooperate in any investigation. Canada’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Trudeau had raised the issue with U.S. President Joe Biden and Sunak.
India has rejected any involvement in Nijjar’s murder and is expected to clarify its position during External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to New York for the UN General Assembly. Following his UN address, Jaishankar may pay a bilateral visit to Washington, D.C.
Jaishankar has already briefed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the developments related to Canada, according to Indian media reports.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a prominent advocate of the Khalistan movement, which seeks to establish an independent homeland for the Sikh community in India’s northwestern Punjab region. He was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on June 18.
