Canada visa and consular services suspended in Bengaluru, Chandigarh & Mumbai; available in Delhi

In a major development to the rising conflict between Canada and India, the North American nation has suspended visa and in-person consular services in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai and the services will only be available at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.

This comes a month after India suspended visa processing in Canada.

In its travel advisory for India that was updated on October 19, Canada stated:

"In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada in traditional media and on social media.

Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them.

Avoid crowded areas, including public transportation. You should always travel with someone and inform a friend or a family member of your travel plans. ‘Consular services in person at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi will be available.’'' 

Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India 

Meanwhile, Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their family members from India after it threatened to strip them of their diplomatic immunity by October 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly had said, amid a diplomatic row over the killing of a Sikh separatist.

Tensions erupted between India and Canada last month following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

India straightaway refuted the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

(With inputs from PTI)