Travel advisory on Canada out; Govt calls for 'utmost caution'

NT Bureau, Agencies

New Delhi: India on Wednesday advised all its nationals living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politicallycondoned" hate crimes as well as "criminal violence" in that country.

This was stated in an advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that came amid the deteriorating diplomatic ties between the two nations following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

India on Tuesday rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official. In the advisory, the MEA asked the Indian students in Canada to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.

India-Canada ties were reeling under some strain for the last few months in view of increasing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in the North American country. India believes the Trudeau government is not addressing its genuine concerns.