DELHI- On Wednesday, India reinstated e-visa services for Canadian nationals. Back in September, India had temporarily halted its visa services in Canada, attributing it to ‘operational reasons’ amid heightened tensions and diplomatic expulsions between the two countries.
The dispute intensified following a contentious discussion on the Khalistan issue between the Indian and Canadian Prime Ministers during the recent G20 meeting in Delhi.
India Restarts e-Visa for Canadian
Canada stated that it is actively investigating credible allegations linking government agents to the murder of the Khalistani extremist in British Columbia in June.
In response, India categorically dismissed these claims from the Canadian side, labeling them as “absurd” and “motivated.”
Earlier in November, the Canadian Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, announced introducing new visa regulations to safeguard international students from fraud.
This decision comes in the wake of an investigation earlier this year that uncovered over 100 cases involving counterfeit admission letters.
Starting from December 1, 2023, all post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLIs) will be obligated to validate each applicant’s letter of acceptance with the immigration department through a newly established verification procedure before granting a study permit.
Canada is also in the process of establishing a framework that will recognize post-secondary learning institutions with elevated standards in terms of services, support, and outcomes for international students.
This system is slated to be in place by the next fall semester. As a result, applicants seeking admission to these institutions will receive priority consideration when processing their study permits.
Approximately 700 international students, predominantly hailing from Punjab, face potential deportation due to their alleged victimization by unscrupulous educational institutions in Canada.
Air India SFJ Threat
The threat emerged from SFJ’s general counsel, Gurpatwant Pannun, who released a video warning Sikhs in Punjabi not to fly Air India after November 19, emphasizing that their lives may be at risk.
This warning was repeated twice in the video. In addition to the video, Pannun called for a ‘Global blockade‘ of the airline’s services from Vancouver to London.
In response to an inquiry from the Hindustan Times, India’s High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, stated, “We shall take up the threat against Air India flights originating from and terminating in Canada with the concerned Canadian authorities.”
Air India currently operates multiple weekly direct flights connecting Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver to New Delhi.
Pannun’s threat has resurfaced the painful memories of the deadliest act of terrorism in Canadian history. The bombing of Air India flight 182 by Khalistani terrorists on June 23, 1985, resulted in the tragic loss of 329 lives.
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