India-Canada latest: Delhi suspends visas for Canadian citizens as Sikh murder row escalate

India has indefinitely suspended visa services for Canadian citizens – citing “operational issues” – amid an escalating diplomatic row over the slaying of a Sikh separatist leader.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of the Indian state’s involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian national and prayer leader, in British Columbia.

Canada also ejected an Indian diplomat who it identified as heading the intelligence wing of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa.

India has rejected the allegations as “absurd” and responded by ordering a similarly high-ranking Canadian diplomat in Delhi to leave the country within five days.

India on Wednesday issued a travel warning for its citizens in Canada, urging Indians to exercise caution due to “growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes”.

Relations between the two countries have been strained for months over the issue of the Khalistan movement, whose members call for a separate Sikh nation to be carved out of India’s Punjab state. The row has seen trade talks break down and a frosty exchange between Mr Trudeau and India’s Narendra Modi at the G20.

Key Points

• India suspends visa services for Canadians

• Canada demands security for its diplomats in India

• India issues travel advisory against trips to Canada amid diplomatic row

15:33 , Katy Clifton

Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our blog for the afternoon but you can check out more coverage here.

What is Khalistan movement

13:25 , Shweta Sharma

Tensions between Canada and India have reached new heights with dueling diplomatic expulsions and an allegation of Indian government involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil.

The row centers around the Sikh independence, or Khalistan, movement. India has repeatedly accused Canada of supporting the movement, which is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora.

The Sikh independence movement began as an armed insurgency in the late 1980s among Sikhs demanding a separate homeland. It was centered in northern Punjab state, where Sikhs are the majority, though they make up about 1.7 per cent of India’s total population.

The insurgency lasted more than a decade and was suppressed by an Indian government crackdown in which thousands of people were killed, including prominent Sikh leaders.

Hundreds of Sikh youths also were killed in police operations, many of which were later proven in courts to have been staged, according to rights groups.

What we know about Sikh movement at the center of India and Canada tensions

India accuses Canada of providing ‘safe haven’ for terrorists

13:02 , Shweta Sharma

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson said: “Safe haven is being provided in Canada, we want the Canadian government to not do so and take action against those who have terrorism charges or send them here to face justice.

“We’ve sought either extradition request or assistance related to that, more than 20-25 individuals we’ve requested over the years but the response has not been helpful at all.”

Son of slain Canada Sikh leader says Trudeau statement vindicates what family always suspected

12:15 , Shweta Sharma

The son of a Sikh separatist leader shot dead in Canada said Justin Trudeau’s remarks alleging the Indian government’s involvement had “confirmed his family’s suspicions”.

The Canadian prime minister on Monday said there are credible allegations of a potential link between “agents of the Indian government” and the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nijjar’s 21-year-old son Balraj Singh Nijjar was quoted by public broadcaster CBC as saying that it was “just a matter of time for when the truth would come out”. Mr Nijjar said Mr Trudeau’s surprise official statement during an emergency parliament session brought a “sense of relief” that the issue is “finally coming to the public eyes”.

Mr Nijjar thanked the Canadian prime minister and other political leaders from the opposition who rallied behind Mr Trudeau in condemning the killing in the House of Commons.

“Hopefully you can take this a step further and get specific individuals,” he said and added that the slain leader’s family was waiting to see sanctions among possible next steps from Ottawa.

Mr Nijjar said he tried assuring everyone that his father’s death was not being swept under the rug. The killing was not just of a random Sikh man but of a temple president who was shot outside his place of worship, he said.

India says it is Canada that should be worried about 'reputational damage'

12:15 , Shweta Sharma

Asked if Canada’s allegations about Indian state involvement in the murder of a Sikh leader will damage India’s reputation on the world stage, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson said it was Canada that should be worried about “reputational damage” from the episode.

Arindam Bagchi said: “I think it is Canada and its growing reputation as a place, as a safe haven for terrorists, for extremists, and for organised crime. And I think that’s a country that needs to worry about its international reputation.”

Canada high commissioner to India ‘slams’ car door on reporter

12:00 , Shweta Sharma

The video shows the moments when an angry Canada high commissioner to India “slammed” a car door on a reporter after the country accused the Indian state of ordering the killing of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada.

The diplomat was summoned by Indian foreign ministry after Justin Trudeau’s accusations on India.

India blames ‘security threats’ for visa suspension

11:53 , Shweta Sharma

The Indian foreign ministry has confirmed the suspension of visa services in Canada.

Government spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India’s high commission and consulates in

Canada were facing “security threats” and are therefore “temporarily unable” to provide visa services.

“The security situation because of Canadian government’s inaction has resulted in disruptions and we have suspended visa applications,” Mr Bagchi said.

It comes after a note saying the Indian mission had suspended visa services for Canadian citizens was posted on an official website.

Canada says to 'adjust' diplomatic staff in India after social media threats

11:45 , Shweta Sharma

Canada‘s high commission in India said today that it has decided to temporarily “adjust” staff presence in the country after some diplomats received threats on social media platforms, adding to spiralling tensions between the two countries.

“In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats,” the Canadian high commission said in a statement.

“With some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is assessing its staff complement in India,” it said, referring to the Canadian government department which manages Ottawa’s diplomatic and consular relations.

“As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India,” it said, without elaborating on what it meant by adjusting staff presence.

“In the context of respect for obligations under the Vienna conventions, we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here.”

India suggests Canadian mission in India could be downgraded

11:44 , Shweta Sharma

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson is giving his weekly press conference in Delhi.He has said there needs to be “parity” between the size of missions of India and Canada in their respective countries.

Adding that Canada has a lot more diplomats in Delhi than visa versa, Arindham Bagchi said: “I assume there will be a reduction.”

Watch what Justin Trudeau said in parliament that sparked a diplomatic storm

11:25 , Shweta Sharma

Analysis: Canada’s Indian diaspora caught in crossfire as diplomatic relations ‘spiral out of control’

11:16 , Shweta Sharma

Frosty relations between India and Canada have reached a remarkable new low with accusations of New Delhi’s involvement in the assassination of a Sikh leader outside a temple in British Columbia.

In a statement to parliament, Justin Trudeau said Canada was investigating “credible allegations” the Indian state was behind the 18 June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar – a prominent religious leader who advocated for the Khalistan movement, a separatist campaign to carve a Sikh nation out of India’s Punjab state.

The two nations had already suspended talks on a free trade agreement amid a row over the Trudeau government’s response to the growing Khalistan movement, which also has supporters in Britain and the United States. Canada says members have a right to free speech as long as they do not incite or espouse violence, while India calls them extremists and had listed Nijjar as a wanted “terrorist”.

Read my detailed analysis.

Canada’s Indian diaspora caught in crossfire as relations ‘spiral out of control’

India visa website suspends services for Canada citizens amid furious diplomatic row

11:00 , Shweta Sharma

A notice declaring the suspension of India visa services for Canadian nationals appeared on an official website today, amid a furious diplomatic row between the two countries.

The announcement was billed as an “important notice from the Indian mission” and said that all visa services in Canada “have been suspended till further notice” with immediate effect, citing “operational reasons”.

It was issued by BLS International Services Limited, a company that provides outsourced visa processing services in Canada for the Indian government. The Indian government has yet to comment.

It comes after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” of the Indian state’s involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, triggering a furious tit-for-tat row.

India visa website suspends services for Canada citizens amid diplomatic row

Canada tried to get Five Eyes allies to agree joint condemnation of India over Sikh leader’s killing – report

10:34 , Shweta Sharma

Canada tried getting the support of the Five Eyes nations for a joint condemnation of India over its alleged role in the killing of a Sikh leader just days before Justin Trudeau went public with the accusations, it has been reported.

The Canadian prime minister triggered a major diplomatic row on Monday as he declared that there were “credible allegations” of agents of the Indian government being involved in the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar three months ago.

Weeks before world leaders of the most powerful economies were set to meet for the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Canada approached its closest allies of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations to jointly raise the issue at the summit, Western officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Washington Post.

Canada sought support of 5 Eyes allies for condemnation of India, report says

‘Deeply concerned’ White House asks India to cooperate in probe into Sikh separatist leader’s murder

10:34 , Shweta Sharma

The US is “deeply concerned” by Canada’s serious allegations that accuse India of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh leader, the White House said, urging New Delhi to cooperate in the investigations.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Wednesday said the investigations by Canada should “proceed unimpeded”.

“We were deeply concerned by these allegations prime minister Trudeau laid forward and remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners,” Mr Kirby said. “They’re investigating and that should proceed unimpeded.”

Mr Kirby also said Washington’s relationship with New Delhi “remains vitally important, not only for the South Asia region but of course for the Indo Pacific”.

Read the full news story here.

Here is everything you need to know about India-Canada row

10:28 , Shweta Sharma

• It began after the Canadian prime minister told the parliament that there were “credible allegations” that the Indian government played a role in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader who was shot dead in June.

• Canada’s foreign minister said Ottawa has expelled top Indian diplomat, who was the head of the country’s intelligence agency

• India denied any role in Nijjar’s death calling the allegations absurd and said there is a “growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities”.

• In a tit-for-tat move, New Delhi expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. India’s foreign ministry said the diplomat had five days to leave the country.

• Canadian allies issued muted response to allegations against India but called the developments concerning. UK and US called its serious allegations while Australia said it had raised the issue with senior officials in India.

• Mr Trudeau said he “personally and directly” raised the matter with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Delhi for the G20 summit.

• Indian foreign ministry said of the meeting that “similar allegations” of the country’s alleged involvement in Nijjar’s killing “were made by the Canadian prime minister to our prime minister, and were completely rejected”.

• India issued a travel warning to its nationals visiting Canada a day after several media outlets falsely reported that the latter had updated its own travel advisory in the wake of simmering diplomatic tensions. It was after videos surfaced of Khalistani leaders threatening Indians in Canada.

• Canada dismissed the Indian sides fears and its immigration minister said it is one of the most safe countries in the world.

• The Canadian High Commission in India said it is temporarily adjusting its staffing presence in India after some diplomats received online threats. It demanded India to increase security of its diplomats.

• The Indian mission suspended visa services for Canadian nations, citing “operational issues”.

Another Indian-origin man shot dead in Canada

10:09 , Shweta Sharma

Sukhdool Singh Gill, a Canadian man wanted in India, was shot dead in Winnipeg, Manitoba province of Canada yesterday.

Gill, who was also known as Sukha Duneke, was shot dead by assailants, days after India’s premier federal investigative agency issued a wanted list of gangsters that also featured his name.

The killing was reported to be the result of inter-gang rivalry. Two gangsters from India’s Punjab claimed responsibility for the killing in Facebook posts, according to reports.

India’s National Investigative Agency (NIA) included Gill in its wanted terrorist list that included 40 people.

It comes as India and Canada are in the throes of a diplomatic row that is likely to worsen already faltering bilateral ties over the killing of a Sikh Canadian in June.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in his car by masked men outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, on 18 June.

Who is Hardeep Singh Nijjar – Sikh separatist leader murdered in Canada

09:43 , Shweta Sharma

The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian national and prayer leader, in British Columbia, is at the centre of a brewing diplomatic storm between India and Canada.

Nijjar was president of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey in British Columbia, and was killed on 18 June on the gurudwara’s premises.

In India, Nijjar was listed as a wanted terrorist and the subject of a Rs 1m (£9,710) bounty for information leading to his arrest. A supporter of Sikh separatist causes, Nijjar was accused of leading a proscribed militant organisation called the Khalistan Tiger Force.

Three months after his death, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau claimed the Indian government could be behind the killing of Nijjar.

“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Mr Trudeau said.

Read the full story here.

India issues travel advisory against trips to Canada amid diplomatic row

09:34 , Shweta Sharma

India issued a travel warning to its nationals visiting Canada yesterday, after several media outlets falsely reported that Ottawa had updated its own travel advisory amid simmering diplomatic tensions.

“Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents.”

It came after members of the Sikh community associated with the Khalistan movement, that demands a separate homeland for Sikhs carved out of India, called on Indian Hindus to leave Canada.

You can read our full story here.

Trudeau says he is ‘not looking to provoke’ with claim of India link to Sikh leader’s murder

09:29 , Shweta Sharma

Justin Trudeau has said Canada is “not looking to provoke” after he alleged India could be behind the killing of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.

Mr Trudeau told the Canadian parliament at the start of this week that there were “credible allegations” of the Indian government’s involvement in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot dead on 18 June in the parking lot of a gurdwara in Surry, British Columbia.

“We are simply laying out the facts as we understand them and we want to work with the government of India to lay everything clear and to ensure there are proper processes,” he said later on Tuesday.

“India and the government of India need to take this matter with the utmost seriousness.”

Trudeau says he is ‘not looking to provoke’ India with link to Sikh leader’s murder

Canada demands security for its diplomats in India

09:22 , Shweta Sharma

The Canadian High Commission in India said it is temporarily adjusting its staffing presence in India after some diplomats received online threats.

It said that the high commission and all consulates in India nonetheless remain open and operational.

“In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats,” it said.

“With some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is assessing its staff complement in India.”

It urged India to provide security to the staff in accordance with the guidelines of the Vienna convention.

“In the context of respect for obligations under the Vienna conventions, we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here.”

India suspends visa services for Canadians

09:09 , Shweta Sharma

India has suspended visa services for Canadian nations, a company outsourced by the Indian government for visa processing services said in an update.

The notification which ran as a ticker on the website briefly disappeared before appearing again.

The announcement was billed as an “important notice from the Indian mission” and said that all visa services in Canada “have been suspended till further notice” with immediate effect, citing “operational reasons”.

It was issued by BLS International Services Limited, a company that provides outsourced visa processing services in Canada for the Indian government.

The Indian government has yet to comment.

09:04 , Shweta Sharma

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the diplomatic row between India and Canada, which today appears to have led to the suspension of Indian visa services for Canadian nationals.