Amid the escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, the Indian government has clarified that it will continue to offer consular services to Indians in Canada. These services include passport issuance, passport renewal, police clearance certificates, document attestation, and others. The announcement comes in response to India’s recent decision to suspend visa issuance to Canadian citizens due to perceived security concerns.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto reaffirmed the provision of consular services for Indian nationals in Canada, ensuring that services vital to the Indian community would remain accessible.
The diplomatic standoff between India and Canada began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted in the Canadian parliament that his government had “credible allegations” linking the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June to “agents of the Government of India.”
India promptly rejected this allegation, describing it as “absurd and motivated.” Subsequently, both countries expelled one diplomat each. India issued a travel advisory for Canada, reciprocating Canada’s update to its travel advisory for India.
In response to the growing tension, India temporarily halted the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens. BLS International, the private agency responsible for the initial review of visa applications from Canadians, initially reported that Indian visa services had been suspended “due to operational reasons.” The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that the suspension was a result of “security threats” hampering the work of Indian officials, preventing them from conducting visa-related functions.
Furthermore, the Indian government requested that Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India, citing the “interference of Canadian diplomats in Indian affairs” and calling for parity in diplomatic representation. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated his charge during a press conference in New York, stating that there were “credible reasons to believe that agents of the Government of India were involved in the killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil,” echoing his earlier comments.
