In a move that has brought relief to many Canadians, India has announced the resumption of certain visa services in the country. This development comes after a period of tension between the two nations, sparked by allegations from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the possible involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on June 18.
India’s High Commission in Canada confirmed that officials will now process various types of visa applications for Canadian applicants, both within the country and abroad. This decision comes a month after the suspension of these services in Canada and for Canadian citizens globally.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar had been designated as a terrorist by India in 2020, but Trudeau’s allegations were met with strong rebuttals from the Indian government, which deemed them “absurd” and “motivated.”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller expressed his satisfaction with India’s decision, calling it “a good sign” after a period of anxiety for many Canadians. He emphasized that the suspension of visa services should not have occurred in the first place and expressed his concern about the diplomatic situation with India causing fear in various communities.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is also of Sikh heritage, welcomed the resumption of visa processing and underscored the importance of enabling Indian and Canadian citizens to travel for events like weddings and funerals. He also mentioned that Ottawa continues to seek India’s cooperation in the investigation of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.
India’s decision to reopen visa services encompasses entry visas, business visas, medical visas, and conference visas, offering more opportunities for travel and collaboration between the two nations.
Marilyne Guevremont, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada (GAC), acknowledged the Indian government’s decision and highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between Canada and India. Guevremont expressed the belief that the resumption of visa services would facilitate travel for families and businesses between the two countries.
The Canada-India Business Council also welcomed the news as a “promising development” for trade relations, emphasizing the importance of bilateral business and investments, particularly during these challenging times.
Notably, this development occurred shortly after Canada recalled 41 of its diplomats from India. Before the heightened tensions between the two nations, India had publicly criticized protests by Sikh separatist groups outside its diplomatic missions in Canada, as well as posters offering cash rewards for the home addresses of Indian diplomats.
India had formally called on Canada to enhance its duty to protect foreign diplomats and to take strong measures against terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil, leading to the suspension of visa services for Canadians. This decision to resume visa services is seen as a positive step in defusing the recent tensions and fostering better relations between Canada and India.