Wed 22 October 2023:
New Delhi: India has resumed e-visa applications for Canadian nationals, two months after all visa services were stopped after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
While there is no announcement, official sources said that e-visa services have been resumed for Canadian nationals on Wednesday.
On September 21, India suspended visa services, citing alleged ‘security threats’ against diplomatic staff. Indian officials had said that it was not safe for Indian diplomats to process visas in missions in Canada, signalling that Ottawa’s response to its concerns was inadequate. India had also suspended e-visa services for Canadians despite the processing taking place in New Delhi.
About a month later, the Indian high commission in Canada announced that it was partially resuming the services for entry, business, medical and conference visas after taking “into account some recent Canadian measures” following a security review. Earlier, Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar had said that New Delhi would resume visa operations if there was substantial “progress” in ensuring the safety of Indian diplomats.
This time, the e-visa services are being resumed, but not through a formal declaration.
After Trudeau made the allegations in the House of Commons, both countries had expelled one diplomat each. India had dismissed the accusations as “biased and motivated”.
Additionally, New Delhi sought “parity” and furnished a list of names to the Canadian side whose diplomatic immunity would be revoked if they did not leave by October 10, which was later extended by 10 days.
Canada announced that it had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India and stopped in-person facilities at three consulates in the country.
-The Wire
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