India had suspended visa services for Canadians on September 21, 2023, citing “operational reasons”. The suspension was due to a diplomatic row over Canada’s claims that Indian government agents were involved in the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistani terrorist.
The suspension came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible link between the Indian government and the killing of a Khalistan separatist. Bharat also asked Canada to take action against terrorists and anti-Bharat elements operating from its soil.
Just hours before Indian parliamentarians were preparing for an extraordinary sitting in the New Parliament Building in Delhi on Tuesday 26th March, Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau rose in his country’s parliament in Ottawa to issue an incredible statement. He claimed that he was murdered by agents of the Indian Government, while another person accused him of being the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force in Bharat.
In June this year, two masked gunmen killed Nijjar, who was aged forty-five when exiting a gurdwara at Surrey. However, the Canadian Prime Minister only confirmed that the investigation into this matter was still ongoing at the same time that his government had already removed a senior member of staff from the India’s High Commission.
This happened less than a week after the trip of Mr. Trudeau participated in the G-20 summit in Bharat where there was a rough conversation on a one-to-one basis between the PMs that is known as a “pull-aside meeting”. Both sides released readouts blaming each other for having foreign influences in Canada, as well as giving shelter to anti-Bharat terrorists. Neither side has disclosed beforehand that they had been talking about the Nijjar murder.
Apart, there was more revelation that Canadian NSAs Jody Thomas visited Bharat twice within a month, and discussed with their counterpart Ajit Doval, but still the Canadian government kept saying no specific evidence presented was provided by Canada. On the other hand, American media outlets have informed the public that there was an exchange of information between partners in the so called “Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance” including USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand before the G-20 meeting took place and some were able to
The relations between the two countries plummeted; as a result, the issuance of visas were suspended on September 21st after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indians were involved in the killing of pro Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nevertheless, in October, India offered some visa types only for Canadian citizens except tourist, work, study, film, missionary and journalist visas.
The day before his attendance at the virtual G20 leaders’ summit, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau re-opens all visa services. Trudeau’s involvement as listed on the itinerary of the PMO, the office of the Canadian prime minister as at 22nd November has been verified.
Trudeau will have an opportunity to meet with Mr. Prime Minister Modi virtually since relations between Canada and India fell down after Trudeau blamed New Delhi because of its poor conduct.
So far no evidence that an Indian was involved in the killing has been produced by the Canadian prime minister.
Also read: https://test.inpactimes.com/india-restores-its-visa-program-for-canadian-citizens/
This was on twelfth November when Trudeau restated that Bharat had contributed to Ninja’s murder and breached the Vienna agreement by banning several diplomats from entering Canada.
The external affairs minister S Jaishankar has stated that Bharat hasn’t ruled out a probe into Canada’s allegations against it, but Ottawa still hasn’t presented sufficient proof. While speaking during an event organised at Wilton Park, a sub-division of UK foreign office held in London, Jaishankar was questioned whether there is any proof that Indians were involved with Najjar’s murder.
“None,” he replied.
Noting that he had discussed the issue with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly, Jaishankar said: And, we informed them that in case they find grounds for this accusation then they should present the evidence to us. This does not mean that we will not investigate them and consider whatever they may have on us. They haven’t done so.”
