India’s visa processing center in Canada yesterday suspended services as a rift widened between the countries after Canada’s leader said India might have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament on Monday that there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh independence advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been wanted by India for years and was gunned down in June outside the temple he led.
Canada also expelled an Indian diplomat and India followed by expelling a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday.
Photo: EPA
It called the allegations being investigated in Canada absurd and an attempt to shift attention from the presence of Nijjar and other wanted suspects in Canada.
“Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” the BLS Indian Visa Application Center in Canada said.
It gave no further details.
BLS is the agency that processes visa requests for India.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately comment.
The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi said that all its consulates in India were open and continuing to provide services, but staff safety was being assessed.
“In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats. With some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is assessing its staff complement in India,” it said in a statement.
Canada expects India to provide for the security of its diplomats and consular officers under the Vienna conventions, it said.
On Wednesday, the ministry issued an updated travel advisory urging its citizens traveling in Canada and especially those studying in the North American country to be cautious because of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes.”
Indians should also avoid going to venues in Canada where “threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose anti-India agenda,” the ministry said.
Nijjar was working to organize an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora on independence from India.
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