- India issues tit-for-tat travel advisory for Canada.
- Ratcheting up diplomatic tension with Ottawa, India, cited “politically condoned violence” and issued a travel advisory for all Indian nationals in Canada.
- Apart from the nosediving bilateral relations Canada-India ties have also been affected by the ongoing online activities by Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
- The ongoing spat began after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday made unprecedented allegations against India while speaking in the House of Commons.
- Responding to that India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat on Tuesday and asked him to leave within five days.
- Canada’s travel advisory was issued soon after that.
Amid soaring tensions between Canada and India, the latter has issued a travel advisory, wherein it cautioned Indian nations and students to refrain from visiting Ottawa rising amid hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada.
Sharing the advisory on the social media platform, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi alerted Indian citizens and students to refrain from traveling to Ottawa amid the fact that anti-India activities hate crimes and criminal violence are on the zenith.
The official emphasized how Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the vested interests, have suffered serious threats in Canada.
”In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid traveling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents,” read the letter from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Further, Bagchi said that the Indian High Commission/Consulates General will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian community in Canada. “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant,” added the latest advisory.
“Indian nationals and students from India in Canada must also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in. Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any emergency or untoward incident,” added the letter.
It is worth mentioning that the diplomatic relations between both nations have reached a new low following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “baseless” allegation against India. He claimed that Canadian intelligence officials have concrete evidence of the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Canadian citizens and Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India, in staunch words, rejected the claims and tagged it a “baseless” allegation. Later, in a tit-for-tat move, both nations expelled the diplomats from their respective nations.
(With inputs from agencies)
