Amid heightened tensions with Canada over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, BLS International, which facilitates visa services…
PM Modi and Trudeau ANI photo
Amid heightened tensions with Canada over the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, BLS International, which facilitates visa services have once again posted a message on its website saying that Indian visa services for Canadians have been suspended due to operational reasons.
“Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21st September 2023 [Thursday], Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” the notice read.
Earlier, the BLS ran the same message on a ticker on its website but it disappeared after a while. The agency has now issued a clarification saying there was some technical glitch due to which the notification disappeared.
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“BLS’ website witnessed a technical glitch, due to which the message did not reflect for a brief period,” a statement shared by BLS with The Statesman read.
This comes hours after Canada said that it will adjust diplomatic staff presence in India amid “threats on social media”.
Ties between New Delhi and Ottawa deteriorated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s shocking allegations of Indian role in Nijjar’s killing. Moreover, Canadian Minister expelled an Indian diplomat allegedly linked to Nijjar’s death and revealed his identity, moving away from diplomatic precedents.
India rejected Trudeau’s claims terming them “absurd and politically motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move.
Nijjar was killed by two masked gunmen in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. He was designated as a terrorist by New Delhi in 2020.
Ever since, the two countries have been at loggerheads and announced several moves against each other. While Canada updated its travel advisory for its citizens in India asking them to avoid visiting several places, New Delhi urged Indians in Canada to exercise extreme caution amid rising “politically condoned” hate crimes.
Update: The government has confirmed that visa services for Canadian nationals have been suspended. For more details, READ HERE
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