Centre issues advisory for Indian students, nationals in Canada, tells them to exercise caution

Tensions have flared up between the two countries ever since Canada PM Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar (Illustration: Moneycontrol)

Advisory for Indian students in Canada: Amid escalating tensions between India and Canada in connection with the murder of a Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Delhi as a retaliatory move, has issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students residing there and those planning to travel.

In a statement released on September 20, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the Indian citizens 'to exercise utmost caution.

"In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution," MEA said in a statement.

Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda. Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents, it added.

The advisory comes a day after Canada had issued a similar one for its citizens who are travelling to India stating, "Exercise high degree of caution."

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"Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," said Canada in its updated travel advisory for India.

Tensions have flared up between the two countries ever since Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in June as well as expelled an Indian diplomat from the country.

India immediately rejected the claims as "absurd" and "motivated" and retaliated by expelling Canadian diplomat and asking him to leave the country within five days.

India, in its statement gad said, "Allegations of the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the MEA said in a statement.

And, a day later, on September 19, Trudeau said he wasn't trying to "provoke" India or "escalate" tensions; rather, he wanted New Delhi to take the murder of the Sikh separatist leader with the "utmost seriousness".

Trudeau said, "The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate, we are simply laying out the facts as we understand them and we want to work with the government of India. It is extremely serious, and it has far-reaching consequences in international law... We're going to remain calm. We are going to remain grounded in our democratic principles and values. We are going to follow the evidence and make sure, the work is done to a whole people."