India has demanded that Canada reduce its diplomatic staff and has suspended the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens amidst a deepening rift between the two nations. The tension between India and Canada has reached its nadir after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist activist. The allegations made by Trudeau have not been backed by any evidence thus far. The visa suspension will have a significant impact on Canadian tourists, as they make up a substantial portion of travelers to India.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a fugitive wanted by India for years, was shot dead in Surrey, a city in Canada, where he was leading a temple. Nijjar was born in India but obtained Canadian citizenship in 2007. Trudeau, at the United Nations General Assembly, acknowledged the challenging and complicated diplomatic situation he is facing. He emphasized the importance of the rule of law and protecting Canadian citizens, maintaining that the purpose of his statement was not to provoke or cause problems.
The bombshell allegation made by Trudeau on Monday triggered a tit-for-tat response, resulting in both countries expelling a diplomat from one another. India dismissed the allegations as ‘absurd,’ while Canada has yet to present any concrete evidence to support its claims. Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, stated that it is still early days, and while facts will eventually emerge, they must be revealed during the ongoing pursuit of justice. He asserted that Canada upholds the rule of law. Visa services for Indian nationals in Canada have been temporarily suspended. The BLS Indian Visa Application Centre did not provide any specific reasons for the suspension.
This move means that Canadians without visas will not be able to visit India until services are resumed. India’s Bureau of Immigration reported that in 2021 alone, around 80,000 Canadian tourists visited India. The Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, attributed the visa suspension to safety issues, claiming that the functioning of the High Commission and consulates in Canada has been disrupted due to security threats. He assured that the situation would be regularly reviewed but did not provide further details on the alleged threats.
This decision has caused widespread concern and uncertainty, particularly among individuals in Canada with ties to India. Sukhwinder Dhillon, a grocery store owner in Montreal, had planned a trip to India to see family and attend to his recently deceased father’s estate. However, the visa suspension has put his plans on hold indefinitely. Dhillon expressed his frustration, stating that he doesn’t know when he will be able to visit now.
Responding to the visa suspension, Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Ministry, called for a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India. He emphasized the need for parity in staffing levels between the two countries. The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi clarified that its consulates in India remain open and operational to serve clients. The mission revealed that some of its diplomats have received threats on social media, necessitating a reassessment of the staff working in India. Additionally, Canada expects India to provide security for their diplomats and consular officers.
India recently warned its citizens to exercise caution when traveling to Canada due to rising anti-India activities and politically sanctioned hate crimes in the country. However, Canada has not provided any evidence of Indian involvement in the killing of the Sikh activist. Indian security and intelligence agencies have a history of involvement in South Asia and are suspected of carrying out various killings in Pakistan. However, orchestrating the murder of a Canadian citizen within Canada, where nearly two million people of Indian descent reside, would be unprecedented.
Bagchi accused Canada of harboring terrorists and criticized the country for not taking action on the specific evidence provided by India concerning criminal activities conducted by individuals based on Canadian soil. India has consistently denounced Canada for permitting Sikh separatists, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had accused him of having links to terrorism, allegations which Nijjar had denied. As a local leader supporting the creation of an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, Nijjar had become a target for Indian authorities.
Although the Sikh insurgency in India ended many years ago, the Indian government remains concerned about Sikh separatist groups attempting to resurface, and they have urged countries like Canada, where Sikhs make up over 2% of the population, to do more to curb their activities. The strained relationship between India and Canada over Sikh separatist issues has long been a cause for tension, but the two nations have maintained strong defense and trade ties, understandable given their shared concerns over China’s global ambitions.
The diplomatic rift between India and Canada became apparent at the recent G20 summit hosted by India. Trudeau had cold encounters with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and shortly after, Canada canceled a trade mission to India, which had been scheduled for the fall. As a result, a trade deal between the two countries has temporarily been halted. Meanwhile, India’s National Investigation Agency has intensified its crackdown on Sikh insurgents operating within India and has offered rewards for information leading to the arrest of five insurgents, one of whom is believed to be in Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of supporting insurgencies in both Kashmir and Punjab, charges which Islamabad denies.
