India relaxes visa restrictions for Canadian citizens; four services to resume from tomorrow

NEW DELHI: Amid an ongoing diplomatic row with Canada, India has decided to ease visa restrictions for Canadian citizens. Entry visa, Business visa, Medical visa and Conference visa are four categories in which India has decided to resume visa services in Canada with effect from October 26. It was the Indian High Commission in Canada that announced this.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said last week that India will resume issuing visas to Canadian citizens if it “sees progress” in the safety of its diplomats. The other day, India had expressed its displeasure against Canada's action of monitoring the phones of Indian High Commission officials in Canada. India had pointed out that this was a violation of Vienna Convention rules.

Relations between the two countries soured after Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement in their parliament that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed this allegation. Days after Trudeau's allegations, India announced a temporary suspension of visas to Canadian citizens. Following this, Canada withdrew its diplomatic personnel from India. The United States and Britain supported Canada's decision to withdraw diplomatic personnel.