India Suspend Visa Services for Canadians Amid Diplomatic Strife

Delhi, 21st September 2023:

India has abruptly halted visa services for Canadian nationals, plunging bilateral relations into further turmoil amid escalating tensions. The move comes in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive accusation linking India to the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a charge that has ignited a fierce diplomatic standoff between the two nations.

Remarkably, this suspension of visa services was executed without any formal announcement, leaving many perplexed. Instead, it was BLS International, the entity responsible for managing visa application centers in Canada, that disseminated the message on its Canadian website, conveying the unexpected news. The statement read, “Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21st September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended until further notice.”

Although an Indian official acknowledged the suspension, they remained tight-lipped, declining to provide additional insights, stating, “The language is clear and it says what it is intended to say.” This unprecedented move marks the first time that India has suspended visa services since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Adding to the intrigue, the Indian High Commission’s website became inaccessible late on Wednesday, raising questions about the timing and implications of this decision. The suspension announcement comes hot on the heels of India issuing a cautionary advisory to its citizens residing in Canada, urging them to exercise extreme caution due to the escalating wave of anti-India activities and what it termed as “politically-condoned hate crimes.” Notably, Indian students have been singled out for particular vigilance in this advisory.