External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said the visa row with Canada was a “closed chapter” after Canada expressed regrets over the foul language used by some of its officials against Indian security and intelligence institutions.
“We have received a copy of the statement made by Jason Kenny, Canadian minister for citizenship. He has expressed high regards for India. They have deeply regretted the recent letter drafted by low level officials on routine visa applications casting aspersions on security forces,” Krishna told reporters after opening Passport Seva Kendras, here.
“They told us this language no way reflects the policy or perceptions of Canada about India. I think they have realised their mistakes. We should consider the chapter closed,” Krishna said.
The Canadian High Commission, over the last few years, has denied visas to many senior serving and retired officials of the armed forces and intelligence establishment, claiming that their organisations or they themselves have served in sensitive areas like J&K and engaged in violence and human rights violations.
These adverse comments had triggered an outrage here, with the Home Ministry threatening retaliation.
Earlier, Krishna unveiled four Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) as part of the Passport Seva Project in Karnataka to ensure speedy delivery of the document. Two PSKs in Bangalore and one each in Mangalore and Hubli were simultaneously launched here under the project that would ensure that an applicant gets the passport three days after his or her police verification is completed.
As opening of new passport offices and mere growth in capacity was insufficient to meet the growing demands of passport, the Passport Seva Project was envisaged with 77 PSKs across the country. A call centre operating 24x7 in 17 languages and a centralised nationwide computerised system was created for issuance of passports.
“It is the first national level project using biometrics and bringing together government and private sector (with TCS as the implementing agency),” Krishna said.
