Killing of Sikh leader, Canada suspends consulates in India

Canada has temporarily suspended operations at its consulates in Indian cities amid tensions with India following the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, warning that visa processing could be delayed.

According to Reuters news agency, the announcement by Foreign Minister Melania Jolie will affect consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai, where Canada recalled 41 diplomats from India a few hours before the announcement.

In addition, Indian government sources have said that New Delhi is not planning to take or implement any measures to curb imports or investment from Canada despite the dispute.

Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that we have credible evidence of a link between Indian agents and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nagar, prompting India to reduce its diplomatic presence in Canada.

India denies any link to the shooting incident outside a Sikh temple in June this year.

Canadian consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai are temporarily suspending in-person operations, but services in the capital will continue as usual, the Canadian High Commission or Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement. .

As we are reducing the number of employees in India from 27 to five, visa processing times are likely to be affected even though most visa matters are handled overseas, Canada's Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada department said. .

He said that Canada has a close relationship with Indian citizens and we will continue to welcome them.

There are more than two million Indians living in Canada, which is 5% of the total population of Canada, while the largest number of foreign students in Canada come from India.

India's foreign ministry spokesman Arndam Bagchi did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said last week that New Delhi was committed to ensuring relations on an equal footing at the diplomatic level.

India has dismissed as absurd the suspicions of Justin Trudeau that Indian agents killed 45-year-old Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nagar.

Two senior Indian government sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the dispute will not affect trade or investment, with imports from Canada continuing and bilateral trade expected to reach $8 billion in 2022. had gone