India jabs Canada, MEA confirms visa services in Canada suspended due to security threats

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday sought to confirm the suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens at its missions & consulates in Canada, citing security threats to senior diplomats as the reason behind it.

Addressing the media amid festering ties between two nations, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed that normal functioning of the High Commission & consulates was disrupted and there was a temporary stay on processing visa applications.

“You are aware of the security threats being faced by our High Commission and Consulates in Canada. This has disrupted their normal functioning. Accordingly, our High Commission and Consulates are temporarily unable to process visa applications. We will be reviewing the situation on a regular basis…,” Bagchi told the mediapersons.

Notably, the security of India’s top diplomats stands compromised after their pictures & even mobile numbers were made public by pro-Khalistani elements. To make matters, the identity of top Indian diplomat expelled by Canada was ‘leaked’ to media apparently by the authorities, thus putting his life at risk.

Recently, the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group head Gurpatwant Singh Pannu released a video threat to Hindus, threatening them to either leave Canada or face dire consequences.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, “Yes, we’ve informed the Govt of Canada that there should be parity in strength in our mutual diplomatic presence. Their number is very much higher than ours in Canada… I assume there will be a reduction from the Canadian side.” pic.twitter.com/4LIBeyhzBz

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2023

The diplomatic ties between India and Canada took a hit after PM Justin Trudeau made a direct charge at the Indian govt, accusing it of plotting pro-Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s ‘assassination’.

The MEA spokesperson also slammed the slanderous & absurd allegations by Canada and dubbed it as politically motivated.

Further speaking on reduction of staff in respective missions, the MEA spokesperson also called for diplomatic parity.

“Yes, we’ve informed the Govt of Canada that there should be parity in strength in our mutual diplomatic presence. Their number is very much higher than ours in Canada… I assume there will be a reduction from the Canadian side,” he told presss.