India suspends visas for Canadians amid row over Sikh separatist killing

Members of the Sikh community in Peshawar, Pakistan, protest against the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar Photo: AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad

India stops issuance of visas to Canada amid diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist in Vancouver.

“For operational reasons, Indian visas are suspended with effect from 21 September 2023 until further notice. «, BLS International, the country's visa processing service, posted on its website.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau demanded that India take «extremely seriously» allegations that Indian agents played a role in the June killing Hardeepa. Singh Nijjar

The fallout prompted a mutual expulsion of diplomats and a strong denial from India, which said any suggestion that it played a role in Nijjar's killing was «absurd.»

The visa suspension came a day after India's ministry said it was concerned about the safety of its citizens in Canada due to «politically motivated hate crimes and criminal violence.»

“The threats are particularly directed at Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” the ministry said. “Indian citizens are therefore advised to avoid travel to regions and potential locations in Canada where similar incidents have occurred.”

A Poster demands investigation into India's role in the murder of a Sikh leader at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia Photo: REUTERS/Chris Helgren

Nijjar was shot and killed by two masked assailants outside the Sikh temple he led in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.< /p>

An activist for the creation of a Sikh state known as Khalistan, Nijjar was wanted by Indian authorities on charges of terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder.< /p>

He has denied the charges, according to the World Sikh Organization of Canada. a non-profit organization that says it protects the interests of Canadian Sikhs.

The Indian government accuses Ottawa of turning a blind eye. pay attention to the activities of radical Sikh nationalists who advocate the creation of an independent Sikh state in northern India.