Indian visa services in Canada suspended as diplomatic crisis snowballs

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 21, 2023: India has suspended visa services for Canadian nationals till further notice amid a diplomatic row between the two countries over claims linking Indian government agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June.

 

A notice by BLS International - an online visa application centre in India that provides visa consultancy services – posted on its website that, “Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates.”

The developments came three days after the Canadian prime minister’s allegations against India over the latter’s potential link with the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

CANADA’S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST INDIA

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, while addressing the Parliament on Monday, alleged that Indian agents were behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Trudeau claimed that his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau said.

INDIA REJECTS CANADA’S CLAIMS

Replying to the claims made by Canada, India termed them "absurd" and "motivated".

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister.”

Courtesy: India Today