Amid diplomatic stand-off, Indian visa services in Canada suspended 'till further notice'

The tensions between India and Canada reached a new zenith when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly acknowledged on Monday that his government was actively investigating "credible allegations" suggesting that Indian government agents may have been involved in the June 18 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

New Delhi: Confusion prevails over suspension of Visa services by India for Canadians amid the diplomatic row between the two nations. BLS International, the agency hired by India for initial scrutiny of visa applications has restored the ticker on its website after it was briefly removed on the suspension of visa services till further notice for operational reasons.

The Indian Mission has once again updated its Visa Application page on BLS International reinstating the ticker. BLS International has also issued a statement regarding the suspension of Indian visa services to Canadian nationals.

"Due to operation reasons, with immediate effect i.e. 21 September 2023, Indian visa services in Canada have been suspended till further notice. The impact of this move is negligible on our financials as the Canadian visa issuance business contributes less than 2% to BLS International’s total annual revenue," BLS said in an official statement to BSE.

India and Canada are at loggerheads over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent pro-Khalistan Sikh activist. Earlier in the day, the Indian government had announced the suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens "till further notice." The move came in the wake of a bitter international dispute over allegations that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration possesses intelligence connecting New Delhi to the murder of Nijjar.

The decision to halt visa issuance was officially communicated through BLS International, an online visa application centre, citing "operational reasons." Nijjar, a fervent advocate for Sikh independence, was fatally shot two months ago, a tragic event that has become the epicentre of an increasingly strained relationship between India and Canada. While Sikh organizations have hailed Nijjar as a human rights activist championing their cause, the Indian government has labelled him a criminal.

The tensions reached a new zenith when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly acknowledged on Monday that his government was actively investigating "credible allegations" suggesting that Indian government agents may have been involved in the June 18 assassination. Nijjar met his tragic demise when he was gunned down outside a Sikh cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia.

In reflection of the hardening of its position, India on Wednesday advised all its nationals living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes as well as "criminal violence" in that country.

The India-Canada ties have been reeling under some strain for the last few months in view of increasing activities of the pro-Khalistani elements in the North American country. India believes the Trudeau government is not addressing its genuine concerns.