'Given the deteriorating security environment...':MEA issues advisory to Indian citizens in Canada

The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday issued an advisory to all Indian nationals in Canada, urging them "to exercise utmost caution."

The statement came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the alleged killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The advisory was published by MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. "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. 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 read.

The statemet further said, "Indian nationals are therefore advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents. Our High Commission/Consulates General will continue to be in contact with the Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well being of the Indian community in Canada. Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant. Indian nationals and students from India in Canada must also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites, or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in. Registration would enable the High Commission and the Consulates General to better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any emergency or untoward incident."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's said in the country's Parliament on Monday that the authorities are actively pursuing credible allegations" related to Indian government involvement in the murder of Nijjar, a designated terrorist, in British Columbia in June. In an emergency statement to the House of Commons in Ottawa, Trudeau said that any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen was "an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty".

India has strongly rejected Trudeau's claims as absurd and motivated and dismissed a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move.

New Delhi, which remains wary of any revival of the insurgency, has long been unhappy over Sikh separatist activity in Canada and urged it to act against anti-Indian elements.A former chief of India's external spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), reportedly told Reuters that it was strange Trudeau had announced the expulsion of an Indian diplomat in parliament.

Canada has the largest population of Sikhs outside the Indian state of Punjab, with about 770,000 people reporting Sikhism as their religion in the 2021 census. Some Indian analysts say Ottawa does not stop Sikh protesters as they are a politically influential group.