In light of the growing controversy surrounding the murder of a Sikh separatist on Canadian land, India has ceased granting visas to nationals of Canada.
The temporary relocation, according to India, was necessary because "security threats" were impeding operations at its Canadian outposts. India continues to offer Canada's visa services.
After the Premier of Canada suggested that India may have been involved in the 18 June killing, tensions erupted this week.India furiously denied the accusation, calling it "absurd."
Relationships between the major partners in trade and security and US allies have been tense for months. Analysts claim that they have reached a record low.
The government of India quickly said that "Canadians in a third country" are affected by the suspension of visa services.
The Canadian high commission [embassy] and consulates have received threats, according to a spokeswoman for the Indian foreign affairs ministry in Delhi. "This has interfered with how they normally operate. As a result, they are momentarily unable to handle visa requests.
"India is seeking rank and diplomatic strength parity between the diplomatic missions of the two countries," he declared. Because of Canadian diplomatic meddling in our domestic matters, this is being pursued.
It cut back on staff in India after several embassies reported receiving threats on social media.
According to a statement, "We are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats in light of the current environment where tensions have heightened."
There are several factors at play and the two nations have strong historical links.
How connections between India and Canada turned into a public dispute
According to the 2021 census, there are 1.4 million Indian-born citizens of Canada, the majority of them are Sikhs. They make up 3.7% of the total population. India also sends the most foreign students to Canada; in 2022, there were 320,000 of them, or 40% of all foreign students.
It cut back on staff in India after several embassies reported receiving threats on social media.
According to a statement, "We are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats in light of the current environment where tensions have heightened."
There are several factors at play and the two nations have strong historical links.
How connections between India and Canada turned into a public dispute
According to the 2021 census, there are 1.4 million Indian-born citizens of Canada, the majority of them are Sikhs. They make up 3.7% of the total population. India also sends the most foreign students to Canada; in 2022, there were 320,000 of them, or 40% of all foreign students.
Canada's intelligence agencies are looking into whether "agents of the government of India" were involved in the murder of Nijjar, who India classified as a terrorist in 2020, according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh in Canada?
India reacted angrily, accusing Canada of attempting to "shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists" who had received asylum there. The Indian government has frequently reacted angrily to proposals for Khalistan, or a separate Sikh homeland, made by Sikh separatists in Western nations.
The Khalistan movement peaked in India in the 1980s with a violent insurgency centred in Sikh-majority Punjab state.
It was quelled by force and has little resonance in India now, but is still popular among some in the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK.