'Exercise utmost caution': MEA advisory for Indians in Canada amid politically-condoned hate crimes

A day after Canada issued a revised travel advisory asking its citizens to avoid all travel to Jammu and Kashmir “due to the unpredictable security situation”, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a warning in an advisory, urging all Indian nationals living or travelling to Canada to “exercise utmost caution” amid politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in the country.

A statement by the external affairs ministry says, "In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.”

The High Commission/Consulates General will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well being of the Indian community in Canada, the MEA says in its advisory.

“Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise caution and remain vigilant,” the advisory notes.

“Indian nationals and students from India in Canada must also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in. Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any emergency or untoward incident," it adds.

The revised advisory comes after the Canadian government on Tuesday issued a similar one for its citizens, asking them to “exercise a high degree of caution” when travelling to India. 

"Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," Canada stated in the advisory for India.

The political tension between India and Canada escalated amid row over the killing of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force terrorist group. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was murdered on June 18 this year in front of a Sikh cultural centre in a Vancouver suburb.

A senior Canadian diplomat was expelled on Tuesday by New Delhi after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Nijjar and sacked an Indian diplomat from the country.

India, however, refuted the Canadian Prime Minister’s claims, calling it as "absurd" and "motivated". "Allegations of the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the MEA said in a statement.

Last week, following the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the trade talks between India and Canada were paused due to increasing pro-Khalistani activities in Canada. Following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of G20, India issued a strong statement expressing "strong concerns" about the continuous "anti-India activities" by extremist elements in Canada.

“They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship. The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats,” the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.