India Issues Caution for Travel to Canada - Visa suspended

India has issued a travel advisory to its citizens, urging them to "exercise utmost caution" while traveling to Canada due to the "growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence."

The advisory, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), comes amid a diplomatic row between the two countries over allegations that the Indian government may be linked to the extra-judicial killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that no specific information has been shared by Canada on the Nijjar killing case. But, from the Indian side, specific information regarding criminal activities by individuals based on Canadian soil was shared but no action has been taken yet.

The advisory specifically mentions threats against Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the "anti-India agenda." It also advises Indian nationals to avoid traveling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.

The MEA advisory has been met with criticism from the Canadian government, which has called it "unfounded and unwarranted." The Canadian government has also issued its own travel advisory to its citizens, urging them to "exercise a high degree of caution" while traveling to various regions of India.

Indian visa services in Canada have been suspended until further notice for operational reasons, with immediate effect from 21 September 2023," read the letter sent to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange

The diplomatic row between India and Canada is a major setback for relations between the two countries. India has a large diaspora in Canada, and the two countries have close economic and cultural ties.