New Delhi: The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday stated that Indian consulates in Canada are currently unable to process visa applications due to concerns about security threats.
Earlier in the day BLS International, a private agency responsible for the initial review of visa requests, suspended its services indefinitely citing “operational reasons.
“As you know, our High Commissions and Consulates in Canada are currently dealing with security threats that have disrupted their regular operations. Consequently, they are temporarily unable to handle visa applications. We will continuously assess the situation,” Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson, told reporters.
Bagchi further elaborated that the Indian government has also put a hold on the issuance of electronic visas, while emphasizing that the core concern revolves around “discriminatory practices in the way visas are granted by the Canadian authorities.”
“All categories of visas are suspended. Issue not about travel to India… those who have valid visas (issued before this suspension order) are (cleared) to travel to India. The issue is the creation of an environment that disrupts functioning of our consulates and high commission,” he said.
The “temporary” visa suspension is the most recent development in a growing international standoff between the two nations. This standoff began when Canada alleged that Canadian national Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed by “agents of the Indian government.”
Bagchi rejected Canada’s claims as being “politically motivated” and stated that Ottawa had not provided any specific information regarding the alleged killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, on Canadian territory.
“We are open to reviewing specific information if it is provided. We have shared detailed information about specific individuals in Canada from our side.”
“However, Canada has not taken any action based on this information,” he added.