New Delhi - India has indefinitely halted visa services for Canadian nationals as tensions between the two nations intensified following Justin Trudeau's assertion regarding India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
'Operational reasons' have been cited as the cause for the suspension of visa services for Canadians 'until further notice.'
BLS International, a visa application center in Canada, issued a statement on its Canadian website, stating: 'Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice, effective September 21, 2023. Please continue to check the BLS website for further updates,' as indicated in a notification on the official website of the 'India Visa Application Center Canada.'
This decision coincided with Canada's announcement of 'temporarily adjusting staff presence in India' as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of diplomats in response to threats received on social media.
The suspension came after India issued an advisory on Wednesday, in which the Ministry of External Affairs urged Indians in Canada to exercise the utmost caution due to the rise in anti-India activities and 'politically condoned hate crimes.' The government particularly cautioned Indian students to be extremely vigilant.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated earlier this week when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar in June.
On Monday, Trudeau disclosed that his government was investigating 'credible allegations' of Indian government agents being linked to the June 18th killing, when Nijjar was shot outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau's remarks further escalated tensions, triggering a diplomatic dispute that resulted in reciprocal expulsions of senior diplomats during the week.
Nijjar was assassinated in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, where he served as the principal figure of the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
SFJ has accused India of being responsible for the assassination.