India resumes issuing e-visas to Canadian nationals
Updated: Nov 22nd, 2023
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| Image: IANS |
India started issuing e-visas to Canadian nationals again today, two months after the services were suspended in the wake of souring diplomatic ties following Ottawa’s allegation of a ‘possible’ Indian government involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist leader in a Vancouver suburb.
A senior official who confirmed the development said India issues e-visas only for tourism and business to Canadian nationals.
The services have been resumed on a day that prime minister Narendra Modi will be chairing the G20 summit under India’s presidency.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed his participation in the virtual summit.
The resumption of e-visa services comes a month after New Delhi had resumed visas under the four categories of standard entry visas as well as business, medical and conference visas.
Deteriorating Indo-Canadian relations
There were 13 categories of visas that had been suspended in September, citing ‘operational reasons’ for the closure by India.
The India-Canada diplomatic relations took a nosedive in the wake of the Canadian prime minister hinting at India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar near a Gurudwara in Vancouver.
However, India, in response, called the allegations ‘absurd and motivated’, denying any involvement in the killing.
Shortly after Trudeau's remarks, the Canadian government announced the dismissal of a senior Indian diplomat in Canada, for his alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar in the Canadian Province of British Columbia in June.
Last month, Canada evacuated its 41 diplomats and 42 accompanying dependents from India after New Delhi ‘threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity’, according to Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly.
(Source: IANS)
-Edited for style
