On Wednesday, the Canadian government firmly rebuffed India's cautionary advice to its citizens regarding certain areas in Canada, with Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc asserting that Canada is, in fact, a safe nation, as reported by Reuters.
This development unfolded shortly after India issued an advisory addressed to its citizens and students residing in Canada. The advisory conveyed a message of exercising "utmost caution" due to concerns about "escalating anti-India activities and politically-endorsed hate crimes and violence in Canada." It pointed to potential threats faced by "Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda" and recommended that Indian nationals refrain from travelling to regions where such incidents have occurred.
India's issuance of this warning was prompted by a prior advisory from the Canadian government directed towards its citizens in India. The Canadian advisory, issued on Tuesday, urged its nationals to "maintain a high degree of caution."
It noted the presence of certain safety and security concerns, highlighting the possibility of rapidly changing situations. The advisory emphasized the need for vigilance at all times, advocating for the continuous monitoring of local media and compliance with directives from local authorities. Additionally, it suggested that Canadian residents in India should contemplate departing the country if circumstances permit.
The diplomatic discord between the two countries ignited on Tuesday when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Canadian security agencies possessed "credible evidence" suggesting potential links between agents of the Indian government and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijaar in Surrey back in June.
In response, India categorically rejected these allegations, deeming them "absurd" and driven by ulterior motives.
Â
