Khalistan controversy live updates: It’s official! India temporarily suspends visa services to Canada

The MEA said that while India gave very specific information regarding anti-India activities, the Canadian side didn’t give any details about the allegations.

Addressing the media, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Canada’s allegations are politically motivated. He also that Canada didn’t act on India’s information.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi is addressing the media right now.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has released pictures of 10 accused involved in attacking the Indian consulate in the USA’s San Francisco in March and has sought information about them from the public. In the three separate ‘request for identification and information’ notices issued against the wanted accused, the agency has sought information of importance that could lead to their arrest or apprehension. While two of the notices carry photographs of two accused each, the third notice shows pictures of the other six accused in the case. The agency has promised not to reveal the identity of anyone sharing information about the accused. (PTI)

“A lot of Punjabis have settled down in Canada. There is a sense of panic in Punjab. So, governments of India and Canada should find a solution to this issue,” says Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

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VIDEO | “A lot of Punjabis have settled down in Canada. There is a sense of panic in Punjab. So, governments of India and Canada should find a solution to this issue,” says Shiromani Akali Dal president @officeofssbadal. pic.twitter.com/xFzMyPmR4W

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 21, 2023

Punjab is on high alert after the state police launched a crackdown on gangster Goldy Brar. Goldy Brar is among the gangsters, who are accused of having links with Babbar Khalsa International. Brar, who is main accused in the killing of singer and Congress MP Sindhu Moosewala, is based in Canada and is said to be part of the nexus fostering anti-India activities.

“Our High Commission and all consulates in India are open and operational and continue to serve clients. In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats. With some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is assessing its staff complement in India. As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India. In the context of respect for obligations under the Vienna conventions, we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here,” the statement said.

It all started when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India for having a ‘potential involvement’ in the alleged killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The led to a diplomatic row between the two countries with both suspending each other’s senior officials.

BLS International, the agency hired by India for initial scrutiny of visa applications of Canadians, has reportedly withdrawn notice on suspension of services from website. It should be noted that MEA has not issued a statement in this regard.