After two months of the Indian Mission in Canada suspending visa services for Canadian nationals, the government has resumed e-visa services. Earlier in September, India stopped issuing visas to Canadian nationals following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of India having a potential link to the killing of a Canada-based Khalistan separatist.
India Resumes E-Visa Services For Canadian Nationals After Suspension In September
India temporarily suspended issuing visas to Canadian nationals on September 21 after the souring relationship between the two nations. However, last month it restored visa services in some categories. These include business visa, conference visa, medical visa and entry visa. It excluded offering visa services to certain categories like tourist, student, journalist, missionary and film. India has resumed its e-visa services to Canadian citizens. This move is seen as a step to escalate matters between the two countries.
India had asked Ottawa to maintain diplomatic parity by withdrawing 41 diplomats from India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that India demanded diplomatic parity due to concerns of Canadian personnel “continuously interfering” in India’s “internal affairs”. Canada complying with this by withdrawing 41 diplomats from India, So India’s latest move to restart e-visa services is seen as a way to deescalate the matter between the two nations.
E-visa services for Canadian national in all categories has been resumed by India. And this news comes just hours before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in the virtual G20 Leaders’s Summit. The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has confirmed Trudeau’s participation in the summit. It features on Trudeau’s itinerary for November 22.
The First Virtual Meeting Between PM Modi & Canadian PM Trudeau After Souring Ties Between Nations
During the virtual G20 meet, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would come face to face for the first time after relations between the two nations nosedived in September this year. After the G20 summit at Bharat Mandapam in September, Trudeau claimed in the House of Commons that Indian agents may have had something to do with the killing of Canada-based Khalistani separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Also Read: 83-YO Man, Who Got Canada PR After Years, Falls Sick On Air Canada Flight, Dies After Landing
New Delhi on its part dismissed this allegation and called “absurd and “motivated”, demanding Canada to show evidence of the same. It’s been months since Trudeau first made this allegation. And he has yet to provide any evidence if there is any in the first place. External affairs minister S Jaishankar has assured that India is not ruling out any investigation for the same, but Ottawa needs to provide credible and substantial evidence to back this claim.
Also Read: GO Transit Launches 1st Diwali Train In Canada; All Aboard The Diwali Train!
An impetus to implement the Delhi Declaration which was unanimously agreed upon by the global leaders present at the 18th G20 Leaders’ summit in New Delhi will happen. The virtual meeting will have a similar attendance of global leaders as the G20 summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 9-10.
Canadians, can finally let out a sigh of relief if they’ve been planning a trip to India.
Cover Image Courtesy: @narendramodi/ Instagram
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.
Good news! We are on WhatsApp! Subscribe to Curly Tales WhatsApp Channel to stay up-to-date with exclusive content and BTS. Join HERE.
First Published: November 22, 2023 5:57 PM