Visa Suspension and Diplomatic Drama: India and Canada's Deepening Conflict
On Thursday, India took a significant step in
its escalating dispute with Canada, suspending new visas for Canadians and
urging Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. This dispute
stems from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations linking New Delhi to the
murder of a Sikh separatist.
The Indian foreign ministry expressed its
disappointment with Canada for not sharing specific information related to
Trudeau's allegations. However, India stated its willingness to consider the
information if it were provided. This suspension of new visas for a Western
country is an unprecedented move and represents a low point in India-Canada
relations.
The announcement followed Canada's high
commission in India revealing that it would temporarily adjust its staff
presence due to threats received by diplomats on social media platforms.
However, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi clarified that
India's request for Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic mission staff in India
aimed to achieve parity between the two countries.
Bagchi cited "security threats" to
Indian staff in its Canadian consulates as the reason behind suspending the
issuance of new visas to Canadian citizens. Nevertheless, India has not
provided concrete evidence or details regarding the nature of these security
threats. In response, Canada's public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc,
asserted that Canada is indeed a safe country.
Bagchi stated during a press briefing that the
security threats had disrupted the normal functioning of their high commission
and consulates, leading to the temporary inability to process visa
applications. He added that they would continually review the security
situation.
Canada has been one of the top sources of
foreign tourists for India, with 350,000 visitors in 2019, though this number
decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tensions between the two countries flared
up after Trudeau's comments on Monday, where he mentioned investigating
"credible allegations" regarding the potential involvement of Indian
government agents in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. In
response, India's government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vehemently
denied any connections to the alleged murder.
Canadian officials have not disclosed why they
believe India may be linked to Nijjar's murder. This dispute has resulted in
the expulsion of senior diplomats from both nations and reciprocal travel
advisories.
India expressed its readiness to examine any
specific information provided by Canada but stated that they had not yet
received such information. Canada has discussed the matter with key allies,
including members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance.
When questioned about the impact of the
dispute on India's global standing, Bagchi suggested that Canada should be
concerned about its reputation as a potential safe haven for terrorists,
extremists, and organized crime, rather than India.
This ongoing row also poses a threat to trade
ties, with discussions on a proposed trade deal frozen last week. Canada has a
significant Sikh population, and India has long been concerned about Sikh
separatist activity in Canada. Despite the decline of support for the
insurgency in India, small groups of Sikhs in various countries continue to
support the separatist demand for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.
The dispute also has implications for trade,
with estimates suggesting that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
(CEPA) between Canada and India could boost two-way trade by as much as $6.5
billion.
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