New Delhi: India has resumed electronic visa services for Canadian citizens after a pause of nearly two months, sources told NDTV on Wednesday. Visa services were suspended on September 21 amid an ongoing diplomatic row over Canada’s claims that “agents of the Indian government” were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in June.
This means that all visa services including tourist visas have now resumed. Last month, the resumption of services included business and medical visas for a group of four individuals.
In September, India suspended issuing visas to Canadian citizens “until further notice”.
This came as the two countries engaged in a diplomatic spat with India expelling one senior diplomat each and bringing about “parity” in the number of senior officials deputed to missions in each country by India.
The two countries also exchanged travel advisories; India advised its citizens in Canada and those considering travel to exercise “extreme caution” in the wake of “politically supported” hate crimes.
The Indian government has repeatedly and strongly denied “absurd” and “motivated” allegations that it was involved in Nijjar’s death, and has demanded Ottawa share evidence in support of its claims.
Last week, India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, restated India’s request at a gathering in the United Kingdom. The event aimed to encourage India to collaborate with Canada’s ongoing investigation. Mr. Jaishankar emphasized, “.We are not ruling out investigation… (but) if your (Canadian government) If you have any reason to make such an allegation, please share evidence with us. We will consider whatever you offer.”
India-Canada relations have suffered a major setback after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a big claim – that his government has “credible allegations” linking “agents” of the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder.
Talks on it – stalled since September – may remain on hold as Canada is “focused” on the matter, suggested Mary Ng, that country’s trade minister. Canada asked for a “pause” before Mr. Trudeau’s claim.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurudwara in Vancouver, Canada in June. The Indian government formally declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020.