As tensions escalate between India and Canada, some in the Indian diaspora say theyB次元官网网址檙e concerned about how the situation might affect travel between the two countries.
The federal government expelled six Indian diplomats on Monday after the RCMP said it had credible evidence that Indian agents played a role in violent crimes on Canadian soil, including extortion, coercion and murder of Canadian citizens.
India insists it has not been given evidence of any government involvement in crimes in Canada, and it has ordered six Canadian diplomats to leave.
Fazle Baki, president of the South Asian Centre of Windsor in southwestern Ontario, says many community members heB次元官网网址檚 spoken to B次元官网网址� particularly families and students B次元官网网址� have expressed concern about their ability to travel between India and Canada if the conflict escalates to visa suspensions.
In September of last year, India temporarily suspended visa services for Canadian citizens after Canada said there were B次元官网网址渃redible allegationsB次元官网网址� of Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Baki says many members of his community feel on edge because of the tense diplomatic relationship and its latest developments, and they hope to have clarity soon on whether it could impact securing and processing visas.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e tense, theyB次元官网网址檙e concerned, theyB次元官网网址檙e frustrated with the lack of information and theyB次元官网网址檙e looking for guidance,B次元官网网址� he said.
Rama Singh, a retired McMaster University professor and co-chair of HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 annual Gandhi Peace Festival, has whatB次元官网网址檚 known as an OCI card, which allows unlimited entry to India for its overseas citizens.
But the Ancaster-Ont. resident says heB次元官网网址檚 still worried about his upcoming travel to India, and others who plan to visit the country in the coming weeks as Diwali and wedding season approach.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 concerned that I have bought tickets, and I would like to know soon which way things are moving,B次元官网网址� he said.
This weekB次元官网网址檚 expulsion of Indian diplomats from Canada comes after more than a year of rising tensions between the two countries, which came to a head after NijjarB次元官网网址檚 murder in June 2023.
What followed were several months of strained diplomatic relations, including Canada postponing a trade mission to India and both countries expelling top diplomats.
But amid the growing tensions, Singh says itB次元官网网址檚 important to remember how Indians have contributed to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 social fabric, and the relationships created in local communities.
B次元官网网址淚 think India and CanadaB次元官网网址檚 relations are solid and long term, and will remain,B次元官网网址� he said.
