Visa relief signals thaw

Trudeau’s explosive statement came on September 18 and three days later, the Indian high commission in Canada suspended the issuing of visas. However, the Indian response was not a sudden development. Ottawa had refused to address Delhi’s concerns regarding the threats issued by Khalistani groups in Canada against Indian diplomats and India’s sovereignty. The Trudeau administration, strangely, privileged the views of extremist groups over the sensitivities of a responsible democracy, with which Ottawa has friendly relations. Trudeau’s attempt at grandstanding, perhaps buoyed by the support from other Five Eyes nations, understandably angered Delhi, which hardened its stance. Last week, Ottawa had to withdraw 41 of its diplomats from India after Delhi invoked the principle of parity enshrined in the Vienna Convention. Canada has also announced a pause in “in-person services” at three of its four consulates in India.

The diplomatic stand-off has become a cause of worry and inconvenience for a large population in both countries. Consider these numbers: 1.86 million Canadian residents are of Indian origin, which is nearly 5% of Canada’s population; in 2022, over 3 lakh Indian students took admissions in Canada. Canada’s large Sikh community shares kinship ties with Punjab; not all of these Persons of Indian Origin possess Overseas Citizen of India documents, which makes visas a necessity when they travel for family and faith-related functions. Similarly, the shutdown of consulates will put Indian students seeking to study in Canada under stress. Trade and tourism have already been affected by the bilateral tensions, setting back the relations by many years.

It will be unfortunate if some troublemakers backing a discredited ideology get to influence the bilateral agenda of two large democracies. Governments in both countries should take steps to fireproof ordinary citizens from the heat of the diplomatic impasse.