Indian visa service suspended for Canadians: 'People are asking questions about whether it is safe to travel to India'

Ever since India announced the suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens, the phone at a tourism company in Vancouver, Canada has been ringing off the hook. Radhika Sharma, who works in the travel company 'Explore India' and helps people to travel to India, informed about this disturbing situation. "People who had been planning to travel for months are now very worried about what this ban means for them."

Radhika Sharma further said that travelers who have visas in hand need not worry, but "for those who have not yet applied for visas, we are not sure whether they will be able to get visas now or not. "India on Thursday announced that it had suspended visa processing for Canadian citizens, alerting its staff to possible concerns.

India has taken this step after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation that India may be behind the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil, but India has termed the allegation as 'baseless'. Canada is also among the top five countries for foreign tourists visiting India, with more than 80,000 Canadian tourists visiting India in 2021, according to tourism sector data.

India's Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arndam Bagchi said that those who have Indian citizenship are still able to visit India freely.  Similarly, Canadian citizens with Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards can also travel freely.  This card allows unrestricted lifetime entry to its citizens residing outside India.

At this time, the problem is not about traveling to India.  Citizens who have valid visas and other documents like OCI can easily travel to India, but the problem is inciting violence and creating an environment that disrupts the functioning of higher institutions like our commissions and consulates.

However, Sharma, who is studying in Canada, said that the recent tension between the two countries has made her think about her long-term plans. Many students planning their future and seeking permanent residency in Canada are feeling a lot of stress and are rethinking their decisions."

He said he was concerned about "the impact of this rift between the two countries on their ability to live in Canada for years to come. "He also asked if the tension would prevent him from visiting his family in India in the future.

People are asking whether it is still safe to travel to India.

Canada is a popular choice for Indians seeking to study abroad, while Indians top the list of immigrants to Canada, but the rift has definitely raised questions about the future economic relationship between the two countries. Hemant Shah is an Indian-Canadian who has lived in Canada for 49 years.  According to Hemant Shah, his biggest concern in the current situation is the impact of this conflict on trade and business relations.

Many Canadian companies are working in India.  Under these circumstances, if I had been involved in such a business, I would probably have cried out of worry. Radhika Sharma, who works at Explore India, says that she is also contacting Canadian citizens who have visas on the phone, but people are asking if it is still safe to travel to India.

According to her, she is assuring the people that despite any political tension, Indian people are ready to welcome tourists from Canada. Radhika Sharma feels safe in Canada even as India urges its citizens to be 'extremely cautious' when visiting the North American country. Radhika Sharma said, "We don't want India-Canada relations to deteriorate."  People come here looking for opportunities to build a career and a better future and we want to maintain harmony between the two countries.