 "MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi")
In the latest episode of fast-deteriorating bilateral relations, India has temporarily suspended processing visas for Canadian nationals, citing that growing threats to Indian diplomats in the North American country have disrupted the functioning of Indian missions, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
The government has asked Canada to reduce the number of its diplomats serving in India, to ensure parity of strength in staff.
While processing all categories of visas has stopped, Canadians who have valid visas and the Overseas Citizen of India card are free to travel to India, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at the ministry’s weekly press briefing.
The latest rules would extend to Canadians applying for the Indian visa from third countries, he added.
BLS International, the Indian outsourcing service provider for government and diplomatic missions worldwide, which processes visa requests on behalf of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, has informed the Securities and Exchange Board of India it has suspended its service in the country till further notice.
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“The impact of this move is negligible on our finances as the Canadian visa issuance business accounts for less than two percent of our total annual revenue,” it said in a letter to the market regulator.
Tourists from Canada to India numbered the fifth-largest among all countries in 2022. The number had peaked at 351,859 in 2019, before the pandemic hit.
The government has said the 226,450 Indian students in the country will not face any problem in coming back since the visa policy does not affect Indian citizens.
Diplomatic parity
After Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay announced a decision to “temporarily adjust staff presence in India”, the MEA said it had asked for parity of strength and a rank equivalent be maintained in the mutual diplomatic presence of both nations.
“We think their numbers are much higher … we expect (they) would be reduced,” Bagchi said. The move was also prompted by the fact that Canadian diplomats had interfered in India’s internal affairs, he stressed.
On the matter of Canadian diplomats facing threats on social media, Bagchi said: “India takes its obligations very seriously”.
Safe haven for criminals
In its strictest statement on the issue so far, India has slammed Canada for being a “safe haven” for terrorists, extremists, and organised crime.
“We have been sharing data on terrorists and economic fugitives (sheltering in Canada) for a long time. No action has been taken. It would be good if the host government takes action on them,” Bagchi said. The details on 20 individuals wanted by India have been sought, he added.
On Thursday, wanted-Indian gangster Sukhdool Singh Gill alias Sukha Duneke was shot dead in Canada’s Winnipeg. Gill was named in 20 criminal cases. He had slipped through the net of the Indian authorities and reached Canada on fake documents.
Wanted-gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, in a Facebook post on Thursday, claimed responsibility for his murder.
The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday issued a list of 43 wanted individuals, many of whom have links with Canada, and urged the public to share details of their properties and assets which can be taken over by the central government.
