India suspends visa for Canadian citizens amid diplomatic tensions
In the midst of an escalating diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, an official announcement regarding the suspension of visa services for Canadian nationals was posted on an Indian government website on Thursday.
The notice, characterized as an 'important notice from the Indian mission,' conveyed that all visa services for Canadian residents 'have been suspended until further notice' with immediate effect, citing 'operational reasons.'
This announcement was issued by BLS International Services Limited, a company responsible for outsourced visa processing services in Canada on behalf of the Indian government. As of now, there has been no official statement from the Indian government regarding this development.
The suspension of visa services comes on the heels of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement in which he referred to 'credible allegations' of the Indian state's involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader who was a Canadian citizen. This accusation has ignited a heated and reciprocal exchange of words between the two nations.
Tensions between India and Canada have significantly worsened following Mr. Trudeau's assertion regarding the death of Nijjar in June. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and the president of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, has become a focal point of contention, further straining the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
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