E-Paper
Talks at multiple levels preceded partial resumption of visa services in Canada
India last month suspended new visas and asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited “credible evidence” of a potential link between Indian agents and pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder
Discussions at multiple levels for over 10 days preceded India’s resumption of some visa services in Canada on Thursday as the Canadian authorities showed “greater responsiveness” to New Delhi’s concerns over the safety and security of its diplomatic premises and personnel, an Indian official said.
The official refused to comment on whether the parleys included ministers from the two countries even as British business daily The Financial Times reported this month that external affairs minister S Jaishankar secretly met his Canadian counterpart, Mélanie Joly, in Washington DC last month.
Joly, who has said such diplomacy will remain private, on October 19 said Canada will continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue. She was speaking after what Canadians described as the “mass expulsion” of 41 diplomats from India.
The Indian official said visa services for Canadians have been eased in four out of eight categories for the benefit the persons of Indian origin (PIOs) and business interactions. Canadian citizens of Indian origin without Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards were unable to travel to India due to the suspension of visa services. The issue was resolved with the beginning of entry visa processing on Thursday. “This will address 85% of those without OCI cards,” the official said. The entry visa is limited to PIOs. Business, medical, and conference visas will also be serviced.
The official said tourist, student, employment, and film visas are yet to be resumed but will be dealt with as the circumstances dictate.
The Canada-India Business Council president and CEO Victor Thomas called the resumption a vital step in ensuring business leaders can both maintain current relationships and facilitate future growth. “It is also a positive sign that both governments have expressed their support for bilateral business and investments amid these unusual times.”
The Canada India Foundation (CIF) chair Satish Thakkar echoed Thomas and welcomed the resumption, saying the community was facing a lot of hardship. “...CIF was consistently conveying community’s concerns in this regard to both the governments.”
The visa services were resumed two days after Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said the situation was still not ideal for all Indian diplomats and consular officials to conduct normal functions.
Canada has provided personal security details to the diplomats while also enhancing coverage of the missions.
Verma maintained security to key Indian diplomats and consular officials does not necessarily mean that the environment has improved. “It only means that despite threats...they are able to have restricted physical movement.”
India last month suspended new visas and asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited “credible evidence” of a potential link between Indian agents and pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder in Vancouver in June.
Both countries expelled a diplomat each. Last week, 41 Canadian diplomats were pulled from India after New Delhi said they would lose diplomatic immunity if they remained in station beyond Friday. Canada described it as the “mass expulsion” of its diplomats. India has argued it wanted “parity” in the number of diplomats.
On October 21, Jaishankar said that Indian diplomats were not safe in Canada. He added if there was progress, India would like to resume the visas.
