India suspends visa services for Canadians ‘indefinitely’ as tensions rise

Amid rising diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, India has suspended visa services for Canadians “indefinitely”. BLS International, which is an Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide, in a statement, says: "Due to operation reasons, with immediate effect i.e., September 21, 2023, India visa services in Canada have been suspended till further notice."

The Indian company adds the impact of this move is "negligible" on its financials as the Canadian visa issuance business contributes less than 2% of its total annual revenue.

The political tension between India and Canada escalated amid a 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 killed on June 18 this year in front of a Sikh cultural centre in a Vancouver suburb.

India, however, refuted the Canadian Prime Minister’s claims, calling it "absurd" and "motivated". Amid the allegations, Canada expelled a senior official at the Indian high commission in Canada, following which a senior Canadian diplomat was expelled by New Delhi.

In a presser on the India-Canada row today, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says Canada needs to "worry about its international reputation" as it's becoming a "safe haven" for terrorists, extremists and organised crime.

"If you're talking about reputational issues and reputational damage, if there's any country that needs to look at this, I think it is Canada and its growing reputation as a place, as a safe haven for terrorists, for extremists, and for organised crime," says Bagchi.

He says Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had raised these allegations with PM Modi, which PM Modi "rejected", and that such allegations are primarily "politically driven".

On the visa services in Canada, Bagchi says the recent security threats have "disrupted" the normal functioning of high commission and consulates in Canada, which is why they are unable to "process" visa applications. However, the situation will be reviewed, he adds.

The MEA spokesperson clarifies people with valid visas and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are free to travel to India. He says the main issue is the creation of an environment that disrupts the functioning of India's consulates in Canada. He adds it is the host government's responsibility to provide security on its soil.

On the Canadian government's allegations against the Indian government, Bagchi says so far, no specific information has been sought by Canada, though the Indian government is willing to look at "specific information". He says conversely, India has shared "specific evidence" of criminal activity by certain individuals based on Canadian soil, though no action has been taken against them.

Notably, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the leader of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), recently issued fresh threats against Canadian Hindus, asking them to leave Canada. He also announced a “Shaheed Nijjar kill India referendum”, holding the Indian high commission "responsible" for his "assassination".

The MEA on Wednesday issued a warning, urging all Indian nationals living or travelling to Canada to “exercise utmost caution”.