India resumes visa services in Canada for certain categories
The decision was made one month after New Delhi suspended service for Canadian citizens both domestically and internationally.
After a month-long suspension due to tensions with Canada, India on Wednesday began offering some categories of visas to Canadians again.
Following “an anxious time” for many Canadians due to a diplomatic spat over the death of a Sikh separatist, Canada has welcomed India’s decision to restore some visa services in the nation as of Thursday.
The decision was made one month after New Delhi suspended service for Canadian citizens both domestically and internationally. Tensions between the two countries had erupted last month over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims of Indian agents’ “potential” involvement in the June 18 killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
In 2020, India deemed Nijjar to be a terrorist. Trudeau’s accusations have been dismissed by India as “absurd” and “motivated.” Following a worrisome time for his many Canadians, Immigration Minister Marc Miller referred to India’s decision as “a good sign” on Wednesday afternoon.
According to CTV News, he stated, “‘Our feeling is that a suspension should never have happened in the first place.”
“The really concerning diplomatic situation with India has created a lot of fear in a lot of communities,” he claimed. The Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Harjit Sajjan, who also happens to be a Sikh, stated that the start of visa processing is positive news, but he would not speculatively state what message New Delhi is attempting to convey.
“It’s good to see that they have resumed that,” Sajjan told reporters, “It would have been nice (if) they didn’t take it in the first place.”
He stated that it is crucial for Indians and Canadians to be able to attend each other’s weddings and funerals. He continued by saying that while police look into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Ottawa is still reaching out to India for help.
The resumed visa services are available to the selected categories listed below
India will once again provide entrance, business, conference, and medical visa services.
“After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it has been decided to resume visa services for the following categories with effect from October 26, 2023. (a) Entry visa, (b) Business visa, (c)Medical visa, and (d) Conference visa,” the Indian high commission in Canada stated on X.
A representative for Global Affairs Canada (GAC), which oversees diplomatic and consular ties between the two countries, Marilyne Guevremont, said CBC News that GAC is aware of the Indian government’s “decision to resume certain categories of visa processing for Canadians.” ”Canada and India share important people-to-people ties and India’s resumption of visa services will make it easier for families and businesses to travel between our countries,” Guevremont said.
It is ”a promising development” for trade relations, according to a statement from the Canada-India Business Council.
According to council head Victor Thomas, ”It is also a positive sign that both governments have expressed their support for bilateral business and investments amidst these unusual times.”
The event occurred a few days after Canada removed 41 of its ambassadors from India.
Prior to Trudeau’s statement, which sharply increased tensions between Canada and India, New Delhi had openly condemned Sikh separatist demonstrations outside its Canadian diplomatic missions and posters claiming to provide financial incentives in return for Indian diplomats’ residential addresses. India made an official demand to Canada to maintain its responsibility to protect foreign diplomats.
Additionally, India demanded that Canada halt Canadian visa services and take strong action against terrorists and anti-Indian groups operating from its territory.
