India has resumed e-visa services for Canadian citizens on Wednesday, sources have told The Hindu. The decision came two months after India suspended all visa facilities for Canadian citizens in the wake of a controversy triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s remarks on Indian agents being responsible for the June 18 killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said the situation in Canada has “relatively improved” for the Indian diplomats to perform normal duties.
“What had happened was we had temporarily suspended visa issuance because the situation in Canada made it difficult for our diplomats to go to office and do the necessary work for processing visas. As the situation there has become more secure or relatively improved, I think we have found it possible for the visa services to progressively resume,” said External Affairs Minister Jaishankar during an interaction with the media on Wednesday evening.
India had stopped visa services at all Indian missions in Canada citing danger to the lives of Indian officials who were being targeted by Canadian nationals who had put out notices echoing Mr. Trudeau’s remarks. That had gradually turned into a blanket ban on visa services for all Canadian citizens across the world. As a result no Canadian citizens could apply for Indian visa even through Indian missions in third countries.
