Indian foreign ministry claims ‘security threats’ after Trudeau’s explosive allegation of state-sponsored killing mean it cannot provide visa services safely

India says it is indefinitely suspending visa services in all categories for all Canadian nationals due to “security threats” to its consulates, amid a furious diplomatic row between the two countries.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said they have suspended “all categories” of visas, including e-visas and for Canadian citizens applying from third countries.

And India has also moved to downsize the Canadian diplomatic presence in New Delhi, saying that Canada has more embassy workers in its capital than visa versa and that it wants to restore “parity”.

It comes after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of the Indian state’s involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, triggering a furious tit-for-tat row.

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I suspect that’s why this is happening. India - like China and Russia - may view its diaspora as an indirect projection of its own power.

    • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      The amount of Indians living in Canada is crazy, really. A few years ago during Covid I arrived in Vancouver airport and literally thought that I took a wrong plane somewhere and arrived in India instead.

      There were only Indian personnel everywhere until I arrived at the border security. Everyone else is Indian. Then in Vancouver itself, I’d guess that 30% of the people are Indian. It’s crazy enourmous really

      • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        If you’re in Toronto and take a bus to to brampton, it’s like crossing over into a different country.