20 September, New Delhi India: Recent tensions between Canada and India have prompted warnings to Indian citizens living in Canada, studying in Canada, or considering a trip to the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Wednesday advising Indian citizens and Indian students in Canada to avoid going to areas and prospective venues where anti-India actions have been increasing.
The Indian community in Canada has urged its students to be extra cautious and watchful.
Indian citizens and students in Canada are required to register on the MADAD portal madad.gov.in and on the websites of the High Commission of India in Ottawa and the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver. According to the MEA, registering will facilitate communication between the High Commission and the Consulates General and Indian people in Canada in the case of an emergency or other crisis.
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday blamed the Indian government for the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, tensions between the two countries have been rising.
On June 18th, Najjar, who was on India’s list of most wanted terrorists, was killed down in a parking lot outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a warning to all Indian people in Canada and those thinking of visiting, stating that they should exercise extreme vigilance in light of rising anti-India activities and politically approved hate crimes and criminal violence.
According to the MEA announcement, Indian diplomats and members of the Indian community who reject the anti-India agenda have been the primary targets of threats in recent months.
The Indian High Commission and Consulates General in Canada would maintain communication with Canadian authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs stated, to look out for the interests of the Indian community there.
On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his country’s national security agencies had cause to think that “agents of the Indian government” were responsible for the assassination of Hardeep Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger force.
An Indian diplomat was promptly expelled from Canada as a result.
On Tuesday, India reacted, calling the Canadian prime minister’s accusations ‘absurd’ and’motivated. As a result, a high-ranking Canadian diplomat was promptly expelled from India. (ANI)
