India suspends visa issuance to Canadians amid escalating dispute

India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens in response to an escalating dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada. The decision was announced by visa service provider BLS, which cited "operational reasons" for the suspension. This move comes after Canada stated it was investigating allegations linking India to the murder of the separatist leader. India has vehemently denied these allegations and described them as "absurd." Analysts believe that the relationship between the two countries, already strained in recent months, has now reached an all-time low. The announcement about the visa suspension was initially made on the BLS website and India's foreign ministry declined to comment on the matter. This development follows India advising its citizens in Canada to exercise caution due to the growing anti-India activities and hate crimes in the country. Furthermore, Indian diplomats and individuals opposing the anti-India agenda have reportedly received threats. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously announced that intelligence agencies were investigating potential involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen designated as a terrorist by India in 2020. Nijjar was shot dead by two gunmen in British Columbia. Trudeau called any foreign government's involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil an unacceptable violation of sovereignty. India strongly reacted, accusing Canada of diverting attention from Khalistani terrorists and extremists it claims are given shelter in Canada. The Indian government has consistently opposed the demands by Sikh separatists in Western countries for Khalistan. Although the Khalistan movement experienced a violent insurgency in the 1980s, it currently holds limited significance in India while remaining popular among some in the Sikh diaspora in countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK. Canada, with a significant Sikh population, has witnessed various pro-Khalistan protests and demonstrations. Previously, reports emerged stating that India had lodged a formal complaint with Canada regarding the safety of its diplomats in the country.