Citing operational concerns, the Indian Mission in Canada halted E-Visa services for citizens of Canada earlier in September and kept them closed until further notice.
Here below discussed about India has started offering e-visa services to Canadian citizens again almost after two-month:Â
Following an almost two-month hiatus, India has started offering e-visa services to Canadian citizens again, sources with knowledge of the situation reported on Wednesday.
E-Visa applications were halted on September 21 due to strained relations between the two nations as a result of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s unfounded claims of a “possible” Indian connection to the murder of pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.
However, India started offering Canadian citizens visa services again in October for a limited number of e-visa categories, with the exception of journalist, job, tourist, student, missionary, and film.
Services for all kinds of visas have resumed, only hours before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit. The Canadian prime minister’s office (PMO) confirmed Trudeau’s attendance because it is scheduled for November 22.
Trudeau would be meeting Prime Minister Modi for the first time, albeit digitally, as relations between the two countries soured due to the former’s accusations against New Delhi.
A statement that New Delhi condemned as “absurd” and “motivated” was made by Trudeau in the House of Commons, claiming that there were “credible allegations” of a possible connection between Indian operatives and the execution of Nijjar. The prime minister of Canada has not yet offered any proof that India was involved in the murder.
In a dramatic flare-up that lasted for weeks, Trudeau reiterated on November 12 that India was complicit in the murder of Nijjar and charged New Delhi with breaking the Vienna Convention by “kicking out” dozens of diplomats.
Last week, S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, stated that India is not ruling out looking into Canada’s allegations, but he also pointed out that Ottawa has not yet produced any proof to support its position. At a Wilton Park, a UK foreign office agency in London, event, Jaishankar was questioned whether there was any proof that India was involved in Nijjar’s murder.
“None,” he answered.
Jaishankar stated that he had spoken with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly about the matter and that they had been told to provide evidence if they had a basis for making such an accusation. We are considering whatever they may have to give and are not ruling out conducting an investigation. They have failed to do so.