- Friday, December 27, 2024
India and Canada had a major diplomatic spat following the latter’s allegations that Indian agents were involved in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
By: Shubham Ghosh
‘AFTER nearly a gap of two months, India has resumed electronic visa services for Canadian nationals, the country’s NDTV reported citing sources.
The services were suspended on September 21 amid a massive diplomatic row between the two countries over Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that the Indian government’s involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in Surrey, British Columbia, in June. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the slain leader designated a terrorist by New Delhi, was a Canadian citizen.
India reacted strongly to the allegations saying they were absurd and motivated and suspended visa services to Canadians besides asking Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence on its soil. The two countries also expelled a diplomat of the other besides exchanged travel advisories asking their own citizens to exercise caution while travelling on the other’s soil.
The resumption, which has happened at a time when the two nations have engaged in long back-channel diplomatic talks, means all visa services have now resumed, including tourist ones. Services for four visas, including business and medical, had resumed in October.
Last week, Indian external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi’s stance at an event in the UK, which has played a key role in pushing the South Asian nation to cooperate with Canada’s inquiry into the murder of Nijjar.
“We are not ruling out an investigation… (but) if you (the Canadian government) have a reason to make such an allegation, please share the evidence with us. We will look at anything you have to offer,” he said.
Nijjar, 45, was shot dead outside a gurdwara by unidentified people.
