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NATION NOVEMBER 03, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

New Delhi resumes some visa

services as Indians in Canada

demand resumption

Canada welcomes India’s decision to partially resume visa services calling it a “good sign” and stating

that the suspension should “never have happened in the first place”

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Ottawa

n a positive sign, India on
Wednesday decided to resume
Ivisa services in Canada for four
categories after a considered review
of the security situation which “takes
into account some recent Canadian
measures in this regard”. Entry visa,
Business visa, Medical visa and Con-
ference visa are four categories in
which India has decided to resume
visa services in Canada with effect
from October 26.
India had in September “sus-
pended till further notice” its visa
services in Canada amid a diplomatic
row following remarks of Canadian
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about
the suspected involvement of “agents India had in September “suspended till further notice” its visa services in Canada amid a diplomatic row following
of the Indian government” in the kill-
ing of a Khalistani separatist in June. the controversial remarks of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
India had rejected the allegations as
“absurd and motivated” and expelled segment” of Ottawa’s politics. is the main focus. The question is, do “takes into account some recent Cana-
a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat “The relationship right now is go- we have the political will to address dian measures in this regard”.
move over Canada’s decision. ing through a difficult phase. But I do terrorism?” MEA spokesperson Canada has welcomed India’s
Last week, Canada pulled 41 dip- want to say the problems we have are Arindam Bagchi had said in a weekly decision to partially resume visa
lomats from India, after New Delhi with a certain segment of Canadian media briefing last month. services calling it a “good sign” and
had conveyed its concerns over parity politics and the policies which flow Meanwhile, as India resumed stating that the suspension should
in diplomatic strength. Ottawa also from that. Right now, the big concern visa services in Canada in four cate- “never have happened in the first
halted its visa and consular services in which people have is on visas. Some gories, BJP leader Manjinder Singh place”, Canada-based CTV News re-
Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru weeks ago, we stopped issuing visas in Sirsa on Wednesday said that Indian ported. Canadian Immigration Min-
consulates. Canada because it was no longer safe government has restored the visa ser- ister Marc Miller said on Wednesday
External Affairs Minister S Jais- for our diplomats to go to work to is- vice on the demands of the Indians called the move “a good sign” after
hankar had said last week that India sue visas. So, their safety and security who want to come for any emergency. “an anxious time” for his many Cana-
will resume issuing visas to Canadian was the primary reason we had to tem- Sirsa said, “It was the demand of the dians. “Our feeling is that a suspen-
citizens if it “sees progress” in the porarily stop the issue of visas. We’re Indians living in Canada as they are sion should never have happened in
safety of its diplomats. tracking it very closely,” he added. facing problems. This problem start- the first place,” he added.
A press release by the Indian India has expressed its concern ed when Canada’s PM falsely accused Canadian Emergency Prepared-
High Commission in Ottawa said on over Canada providing a “safe haven” India inside the Parliament without ness Minister Harjit Sajjan said the
Wednesday that the High Commis- to terrorists. any facts or proof. However, the Indi- resumption of visa processing is good
sion and its Consulates General in “We should look at the larger is- an government has restored the visa news, but wouldn’t speculate on what
Toronto and Vancouver, “were con- sue of terrorism. And not just terror- service on the demands of the Indi- message New Delhi is trying to send,
strained to suspend visa services tem- ism, but also the fact that it is being ans. Now whoever wants to come for CTV News reported. “It’s good to see
porarily because of safety and security funded and supported. And we know any emergency, for them visa service that they have resumed that. It would
considerations”. this for some time, from our western has resumed.” have been nice (if) they didn’t take it in
Jaishankar had said that In- neighbor Pakistan. But the issue of India on Wednesday decided to the first place,” Sajjan told reporters.
dia-Canada relations are going safe havens and places to operate is resume visa services in Canada for He added that Ottawa is still seek-
through a “difficult phase” and New being provided abroad, including in four categories after a considered ing India’s help as police investigate
Delhi has problems with a “certain Canada. We would expect that, that review of the security situation which the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

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