New Delhi: New Delhi Friday dismissed Canadian media reports of Indian visas being used as tools of repression, calling them “another example” of “disinformation” to malign the country and “akin to foreign interference”.
“We have seen the said media report. It is yet another example of Canadian media’s disinformation to malign India. Granting of Indian visas is our sovereign function and we have the legitimate right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity. The commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India’s sovereign affairs,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a regular press briefing.
The response by Jaiswal comes after Global News, a Canadian media outlet, reported that Sikh separatists in Canada were denied visas to visit India due to their political views. The Canadian media outlet reported that this is India’s “foreign interference tool” in Canada.
According to Global News, Sikh separatists seeking Indian visas were informed that if they wanted an Indian visa, it would require signing a letter renouncing a “Khalistan” and declaring that India is “great” and “democratic”.
Jaiswal’s dismissal of the report comes around two months after ties between the two countries hit another flashpoint over Ottawa’s request to New Delhi to waive diplomatic immunity for six Indian diplomats, including then High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, so they could be interrogated in connection with the June 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Nijjar.
India chose to withdraw the diplomats, rejecting Ottawa’s requests, and expelled six Canadian diplomats including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Wheeler.
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India-Canada ties began deteriorating after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on 18 September 2023, had said he had “credible allegations” that Indian officials had links to the killing of Nijjar, an India-designated terrorist.
Four Indians have been arrested and charged in the killing. Till date, Canada has not shared any evidence with India over the links between Indian officials and the killing of Nijjar.
New Delhi has rejected the allegations, calling them “absurd and motivated”. Prime Minister Trudeau earlier this year had conceded that in September 2023, he had no “hard evidentiary” proof of the links, but since then the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have collected evidence of the alleged connection between Indian officials and the killing of Nijjar.
Students should ‘remain vigilant on deteriorating security in Canada’
The MEA Friday also warned Indian students in Canada to remain vigilant over the deteriorating security situation in the North American country, especially after the murder of three Indian students there last week.
“We are saddened at these terrible tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada. We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. Our High Commission and Consulates in Toronto & Vancouver are extending all possible help in the matter. They are in touch with the local authorities for thorough investigation in these incidents,” said Jaiswal during the press briefing.
He added: “The safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in Canada remains of utmost importance to us…We have also issued an advisory for our nationals and Indian students to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant in view of the deteriorating security environment in Canada as a result of the growing incidence of hate crimes and criminal violence.”
Two persons were arrested by Canadian authorities last Saturday over the killing of an Indian student in Alberta on 6 December.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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