India Halts Canadian Visa Issuance as RAW Tensions Escalate

India Takes Action: Canadian Visas Suspended Amid RAW Escalation

India has stopped issuing visas to Canadians because of the escalating row over the killing of the Khalistani separatists in Canada. India said that the interim suspension was due to security threats hindering work at its mission in Canada. Tensions escalated this week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that India was behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. On Tuesday, while addressing the Canadian Parliament, Justin Trudeau said that he was not provoking India with the allegations.

• India has denied the Canadian Prime Minister’s allegations and called them absurd. The Indian Government has clearly stated the suspension of visa services and also made it apply to Canadians in a third country.

• While reporting to New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Trudeau said that there is no question that India is a country of growing importance and a country we need to continue to work with.

• Trudeau says that Canada is not looking to provoke India or cause problems with the allegation of the Hardeep Singh Nijjar death, but it is unequivocal about the importance of the rule of law and Canadian protection.

• The relations between the countries—the security partners, the key traders, and the US allies—have been strained for many months, but analysts said that they are at an all-time low.

• There have been threats made to our high embassy and consulates in Canada by the Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry. A spokesman said that in Delhi. It would disrupt their normal functioning and temporarily make them unable to process the visa applications.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman said, “India is looking for parity in rank and diplomatic strength between the diplomatic missions of the two countries. This is being sought because of Canadian diplomatic interference in our internal affairs.” In the early hours, Canada made a critical announcement that it was reducing its personnel in India and said that some diplomats had received threats on social media.

Also Read: Another Khalistan Extremist shot dead in Canada