Toronto: CanadahaswelcomedIndia’sdecisionto resume some visa services in the country from Thursday, saying the move was a “good sign” after “an anxious time” for many Canadians, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist.
India’s high commission inCanadasaid on Wednesday that the country’s officials will resume processing some types of visa applications for Canadians applying from across the country as well as abroad.
Thedecisioncame a month after New Delhi suspended the services inCanadaand for Canadian citizens worldwide as tensions flared between the two nations last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia.
Indiahad designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.Indiahas rejected Trudeau’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.
On Wednesday afternoon, Immigration Minister Marc Miller calledIndia’s move “a good sign” after “an anxious time” for his many Canadians.
“Our feeling is that a suspension should never have happened in the first place,” he was quoted as saying by CTV News.
He said the “really concerning diplomatic situation withIndiahas created a lot of fear in a lot of communities.”
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is also a Sikh, said the resumption of visa processing is good news, but wouldn’t speculate on what message New Delhi is trying to send.
“It’s good to see that they have resumed that. It would have been nice (if) they didn’t take it in the first place,” Sajjan told reporters.
He said it was important that Indians and Canadians can go back and forth when it comes to events like weddings and funerals.
He added that Ottawa is still seekingIndia’s help as police investigate the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Indiawill resume services for entry visas, business visas, medical visas and conference visas.
Marilyne Guevremont, a spokesperson for Global AffairsCanada(GAC) – the department that manages the country’s diplomatic and consular relations, told CBC News that GAC is aware of the Indian government’s “decisionto resume certain categories of visa processing for Canadians.”
“CanadaandIndiashare important people-to-people ties andIndia’s resumption of visa services will make it easier for families and businesses to travel between our countries,” Guevremont.
In a statement, theCanada-IndiaBusiness Council said it was “a promising development” for trade relations.
“It is also a positive sign that both governments have expressed their support for bilateral business and investments amidst these unusual times,” wrote council head Victor Thomas.
The development came days afterCanadapulled out 41 of its diplomats fromIndia.
Before Trudeau’s announcement dramatically heightened tensions betweenCanadaandIndia, New Delhi had publicly denounced protests by Sikh separatist groups outside its diplomatic missions inCanada, as well as posters that appeared to offer cash rewards in exchange for the home addresses of Indian diplomats.
Indiaformally called onCanadato better uphold its duty to protect foreign diplomats.
Indiahad also askedCanadato come down hard on terrorists and anti-Indiaelements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians.
(Published 26 October 2023, 10:41 IST)