India resumed e-visa services to Canadian nationals, sources said on Wednesday (November 22). India had suspended the visa services for Canadian nationals amid soaring tensions with Ottawa in September following allegations by PM Justin Trudeau linking the name of Indian agents with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year. India, in staunch words, had rejected the claims and termed them as "baseless" allegation. Subsequently, both countries had expelled senior diplomats and asked them to leave the place as soon as possible.
Jaishankar's response to allegations
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, earlier this month, said that India is not ruling out an investigation but asked Canada to substantiate its allegations of India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Emphasising the significance of credible evidence, Jaishankar categorically stated that there was no involvement of the Indian government in the killing of Nijjar. In response to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations, the Indian External Affairs Minister stated that he discussed the matter with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, and urged the Canadian government to provide any substantial evidence. He emphasised that while India is eager to look into the matter, no proof has been presented as of yet.
"Now, in the case of Mr Trudeau, I have discussed it also with my own counterpart. And we have told them, look, if you have a reason to make such an allegation, please share the evidence with us. We are not ruling out an investigation and looking at anything which they may have to offer. They haven't done so," Jaishankar said.
India-Canada relations
While India-Canada have a broad-based relationship, their ties have often been strained by Sikh separatists involved with the Khalistan Movement, calling for an independent Sikh state in India. More recently, diplomatic tensions were triggered in September 2023, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that Indian agents were involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader.
(With ANI inputs)
