India issues tit-for-tat travel advisory for Canada
The Hindu
India issues travel advisory to its citizens in Canada citing "politically condoned violence". MEA urges Indians to exercise caution and register with Indian missions. Canada has also issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India. Bilateral ties have been affected by online activities of a Sikh leader. India has expelled a Canadian diplomat in response. MEA urges Indian students to exercise extreme caution and register with Indian missions. India issues travel advisory to its citizens in Canada citing "politically condoned violence" and urges them to exercise caution and register with Indian missions. Canada has also issued a travel advisory for its citizens in India. Bilateral ties have been affected by online activities of a Sikh leader, leading to India expelling a Canadian diplomat. MEA urges Indian students to exercise extreme caution and register with Indian missions.
Ratcheting up diplomatic tension with Ottawa, India on September 20, 2023, cited “politically condoned violence” and issued a travel advisory for all Indian nationals in Canada urging them to register with Indian missions. The announcement from the Ministry of External Affairs came hours after Canada issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to “exercise high degree of caution” while travelling to various regions of India.
“In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Our High Commission/Consulates General will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well being of the Indian community in Canada,” the advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs stated.
Apart from the nosediving bilateral relation Canada-India ties have also been affected by the ongoing online activities by Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu who has launched a campaign saying “Indo Hindus Leave Canada”.
Without mentioning the campaign, the MEA advisory said, “Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.”
The ongoing spat began after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday made unprecedented allegations against India while speaking in the House of Commons and blamed the June murder of pro-Khalistan ideologue Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia on Indian agents. The accusations were stepped up when Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced the expulsion of Pavan Kumar Rai, a diplomat in the High Commission of India in Ottawa. In an unconventional move, she also announced that Mr Rai is the head of station of Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of India.
Responding to that India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat on Tuesday and asked him to leave within five days. Canada’s travel advisory was issued soon after that.
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