India-Canada row: Amid Khalistani threat against Hindus, anxious students look at Plan B

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist and head of the banned separatist organisation Sikhs for Justice, recently issued a threat warning Indo-Canadian Hindus to leave Canada.

Muskaan Khanna, 22, was planning to leave for Humber College, Toronto, in the last week of December but the India-Canada row has forced her to revisit her plans. “I've been closely monitoring the issue and preparing backup plans in case the dispute grows, such as postponing my departure,” she told Moneycontrol.

The dispute between the two countries broke out after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the Indian government was involved in the assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Childhood dreams and aspirations are at stake for students planning to complete their higher studies in Canada as diplomatic relations between India and the North American country deteriorate. Many students are now looking at other options such as the US or Europe, especially after threats were made against Indians by a Khalistani leader.

It is not clear what will happen to those who have already applied for a visa and it is expected that there will be a possible disruption in their spring academic session, which is scheduled to start in January. As per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the country hosts over 2.2 lakh Indian students, who make up 41 percent of its total international intake.

New Delhi-based Harmeet Singh Dhanjal’s Plan B is to explore flexible options that won't compromise his educational goals and at the same time do not drown him in student loans.

“It’s crucial to stay adaptable in these uncertain times,” he said, adding that his biggest concern is the amount of student loans his parents have to arrange to get him into the University of Toronto.

Safety concerns

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist and head of the banned separatist organisation Sikhs for Justice, recently issued a threat warning Indo-Canadian Hindus to leave Canada. This has caused safety concerns among students and their parents.

“Safety will be a primary concern. Being a Hindu of Indian origin, I think people like me will be in the heat of the situation. We have no idea if we’ll even find a job because there will be some biased decisions now,” said 27-year-old Shaista Machhan.

Machhan’s parents are fearful about leaving their child alone without any family in a foreign land. She currently has three options: Choose another country for higher studies, make peace with online education or return to her job and drop the plan altogether.

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Study-abroad consultants also favour the idea of having alternatives. Students ideally must have a backup plan because of the suspension of Canadian visas. For instance, ReachIvy advises students to look at other countries, such as the US, the UK, Australia, or nations in Europe, for study-abroad opportunities. “These nations also provide top-notch educational possibilities and can help you meet your higher education goals,” said Vibha Kagzi, Founder and CEO of ReachIvy.

Similarly, Abhijit Zaveri, Founder and Director of Career Mosaic, said that while the temporary suspension of visa services may present challenges, it is crucial to maintain flexibility and consider alternative plans if necessary.

‘Got visa, but challenges remain’

For those who hold permanent residency (PR) in Canada, there are no changes to visa policies yet. A permanent resident is someone who has been given that status by immigrating to Canada but is not a Canadian citizen. All permanent residents can still travel to India and back.

However, the road to PR status is not easy. People with Canadian visas are now concerned that the process will now be more troublesome and affect their chances of securing gainful employment.

Almira Tapal has been based in Canada for the past four years and is currently working at the House of Commons.

“The immigration scene post COVID has been a mess. And this row will just add to the delay and backlogs,” she says. “What I am worried about is that my work permit and visa expire in December, although IRCC had announced permit extensions, I am not sure what would happen after the current row. I am flying back to Canada in a few days and I sincerely hope I won’t be bothered much at the immigration desk.”

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While some universities have asked students to take caution, some are not so worried. Chandigarh-based Rohan Aggarwal said York University in Toronto said the recent developments “should not be an issue”.