Ottawa- On Wednesday, the Canadian government dismissed India's advisory to its citizens concerning travel to certain parts of Canada. Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc emphasized that "Canada is a safe country," as reported by Reuters.
This decision came in response to India's cautionary advice to its citizens residing in Canada and those planning to visit, urging them to exercise "utmost caution." India cited increasing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes in Canada as the basis for its advisory.
In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted "threats" directed at Indian diplomats and segments of the Indian community opposing the "anti-India agenda." It recommended that Indian nationals avoid traveling to regions and venues in Canada where such incidents have occurred.
India's warning came shortly after Canada issued its own advisory to its nationals in India, urging them to "exercise a high degree of caution."
The Canadian advisory mentioned potential safety and security concerns, with the situation being subject to rapid change. It advised citizens to remain vigilant at all times, monitor local media, and adhere to the guidance of local authorities. Additionally, it suggested that Canadian residents in India consider leaving the country if it is safe to do so.
This diplomatic dispute between the two nations stemmed from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assertion that Canadian security agencies possessed "credible evidence" of potential links between agents of the Indian government and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in June.
India has firmly rejected these allegations, characterizing them as "absurd" and "motivated."
Since 2018, India has been the largest source country for international students in Canada. This number increased by 47 percent last year to nearly 320,000, constituting approximately 40 percent of the total international student population, according to the Canadian Bureau of International Education.