India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two nations. This comes after Canada accused India of potential involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist activist on Canadian soil.
BLS International, responsible for handling Indian visa applications in Canada, notified Indian stock exchanges that visa services are suspended until further notice, effective from September 21, 2023. This suspension was also confirmed on BLS International’s website, though the notice briefly disappeared and then reappeared without explanation.
This development follows a travel advisory issued by India, cautioning its citizens in Canada about “politically condoned hate crimes.” The advisory noted that Indian diplomats and certain sections of the Indian community opposing anti-India agendas were being targeted. It particularly urged Indian students to exercise caution.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, recently claimed that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between individuals associated with the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh Canadian citizen. Nijjar, an advocate for the creation of a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan, was fatally shot by masked assailants in June. India vehemently denied these allegations.
This dispute has led to reciprocal expulsions of senior diplomats by India and Canada, straining relations between the two countries. The situation raises concerns about a rift between key partners of the United States.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was known for his support of Khalistan, a movement considered a national security threat by the Indian government. Several groups linked to the movement are designated as “terrorist organizations” under Indian law. Nijjar’s name was on the Home Ministry’s list of UAPA terrorists, and he was accused of attempting to radicalize the Sikh community worldwide in favor of Khalistan’s creation.
Nijjar was killed in June outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, by two masked assailants. His murder shocked and outraged the Canadian Sikh community, one of the largest outside India.
To date, Canadian authorities have not made any arrests in connection with Nijjar’s assassination, but they continue to investigate three suspects and have appealed to the public for assistance in identifying a possible getaway vehicle.
