Amid the ongoing diplomatic tensions, India on Thursday suspended visa services for Canadians till further notice citing “operational reasons”. The development comes even as relations between India and Canada are at their lowest point in decades since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged on Monday that Ottawa was investigating “credible allegations” about the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June.

Follow all the updates here:

• Sep 22, 2023 05:04 PM IST

  Indian Potash sees no Canada supply hit, hopes to extend deal

  Indian Potash does not expect supplies of Canadian potash to be affected by the diplomatic row between the India and Canada, its managing director said on Friday, and hopes to extend a contract with Canadian supplier Canpotex beyond the end of September.

  India is a leading fertiliser importer to support its vast agriculture sector, which employs about half of its 1.4 billion people and accounts for nearly 15% of its $3 trillion economy.

  Canada is one of the key suppliers of potash to India and Indian companies last year signed a memorandum of understanding with Canpotex to buy up to 1.5 million metric tons of potash a year for 3 years, starting from 2023. (Reuters)

• Sep 22, 2023 03:17 PM IST

  India-Canada row: Cong calls for ‘intensive diplomatic engagement’ to resolve crisis

  Amid the India-Canada diplomatic row, the Congress on Friday reiterated that the fight against terrorism has to be uncompromising and called for “intensive diplomatic engagement” to resolve the “serious crisis” while ensuring security of Indians in that country.

  Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also asserted that the security of thousands of Indian students and professionals studying and working in Canada must be protected at all times. (PTI)

• Sep 22, 2023 01:54 PM IST

  Recap: India-Canada diplomatic spat – a quick summary

  India Canada news LIVE updates: The unprecedented tensions flared up on Monday after Trudeau said Ottawa was investigating “credible allegations” about the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government denied any links to the alleged murder.

  Canadian officials have so far declined to say why they believe India could be linked to Nijjar’s murder.

  The two countries, whose relations have been fraying in recent years over the issue of Sikh separatists, have since announced tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats and issued tit-for-tat travel advisories.

  Bagchi said India was “willing to look at any specific information, we have conveyed this to the Canadian side, made it clear to them…but so far, we have not received any such specific information”.

  Canada has discussed the issue with key allies such as the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance, which includes the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, with Washington, London and Canberra expressing concern.

  Asked if any of these countries, with whom India also enjoys close ties, had raised the issue with New Delhi, Bagchi said: “We have been discussing with them, we have conveyed our position how we see these developments.”

• Sep 22, 2023 01:21 PM IST

  India-Canada news: Canada’s allegations politically driven, there’s degree of prejudice- MEA

  India Canada news LIVE updates: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said Canada’s allegations against India are politically driven. 

  • The statement came from MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during the weekly media briefing at a time India and Canada’s diplomatic ties are going through the roughest patch. 
  • Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, wanted in India for years. 
  • The public allegations strained the India-Canada relationship with both countries expelling their diplomats. 
  • On Thursday, India’s visa processing centre in Canada suspended services.

• Sep 22, 2023 01:07 PM IST

  On diplomatic row with India, Justin Trudeau says Canada stands by rule of law

  India-Canada LIVE updates: Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said Canada stands by the rule of law as the India-Canada diplomatic row reached a historic frost with India slamming Canada as a safe haven for terrorists and suspending visa services for all Canadians. 

  • The diplomatic crisis started after Canadian PM Trudeau on Monday alleged that India had a role in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 
  • India rejected the claim and several diplomatic steps were taken by both India and Canada. 
  • New Delhi on Thursday reiterated that though the Canadian PM went on to make allegations against India publicly, the Canadian side never shared any specific input with India regarding its allegations.

• Sep 22, 2023 12:33 PM IST

  Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Khalistan terrorist at centre of standoff between India and Canada?

  Canada on Monday expelled a top Indian diplomat amid probe into the killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on its soil. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau claimed ‘credible allegations of a potential link’ between agents of the Indian government and the killing of the Khalistani terrorist.

  Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia. “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” Trudeau said in the Canadian parliament.

• Sep 22, 2023 12:05 PM IST

  Canada: Justin Trudeau trails in new poll; Pierre Poilievre preferred choice for PM

  India Canada news LIVE updates: Pierre Poilievre, the Opposition Conservative Party leader is the preferred choice as Prime Minister by 40 per cent of Canadian citizens, as incumbent Justin Trudeau lags behind, according to a new Ipsos poll done for Canada-based news platform Global News.

  • The gap between Poilievre leaders gives an indication that Conservatives have high chances of getting a majority to form the government in the next elections in 2025 reports Global News.
  • Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s polling momentum continues to chug along with 40 per cent of Canadians saying he’s the best choice to be PM. His favourables on this question are up five points from a year ago.
  • On the other hand, the number of respondents who think PM Justin Trudeau is the best choice remains static year-over-year at 31 per cent.

• Sep 22, 2023 11:48 AM IST

  What we know so far about Canada’s investigation on Nijjar killing

  India Canada news LIVE updates: The Canadian government has amassed both human and signals intelligence in a months-long investigation of the Sikh man’s death that has inflamed relations with India, CBC News, a division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, reported on Thursday quoting sources.

  • That intelligence includes communications involving Indian officials themselves, including Indian diplomats present in Canada, say Canadian government sources.
  • The intelligence did not come solely from Canada. Some were provided by an unnamed ally in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, the public broadcaster said.
  • Canada is part of a ‘Five Eyes’ network which is an intelligence alliance consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
  • The report said the diplomatic crisis unfolded progressively behind the scenes. Canadian officials went to India on several occasions seeking cooperation in the investigation of Nijjar’s death, the report claimed.

• Sep 22, 2023 11:21 AM IST

  Don’t give platform to terrorists: Centre to TV channels amid Canada row

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: The Centre on Thursday issued an advisory to private television channels to refrain from interviewing individuals linked with terrorism. The advisory comes amid the worsening ties between India and Canada over Canada PM Justin Trudeau’s public allegations that India had a role in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. As several strong moves from both India and Canada followed, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a wanted terrorist in India appeared on a television channel. The advisory, however, does not mention Pannun or Canada’s name.

• Sep 22, 2023 11:01 AM IST

  India-Canada travel: FAQs on visa services answered as tension over Nijjar killing escalates

  India Canada news LIVE updates: Signalling a hardening of its position in the backdrop of unsubstantiated claims by the Canadian government over the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, India on Thursday suspended visa services for Canadians and asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country.

  • Announcing that India was temporarily suspending the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens in view of “security threats” faced by the Indian high commission and consulates in Canada, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the decision will include Canadian visa applicants in third countries.
  • In this comprehensive FAQ, we address some of the most pressing questions concerning travel between India and Canada. Check out.

• Sep 22, 2023 10:42 AM IST

  India-Canada news: Trudeau wants India to cooperate in murder probe, declines to release evidence

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called on India to cooperate with an investigation into the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and said Canada would not release its evidence.

  • Trudeau said on Monday that Ottawa had credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June, prompting an angry reaction from New Delhi. Nijjar, 45, was a Canadian citizen.
  • The Canadian government has amassed both human and signals intelligence in a months-long investigation into the Sikh separatist leader’s murder, CBC News separately reported on Thursday citing sources.
  • Traditional Canadian allies have so far taken a relatively cautious approach to the matter. Political analysts said this was partly because the United States and other major players see India as a counterweight to the growing influence of China.

• Sep 22, 2023 10:23 AM IST

  No place for hate in Canada: Country’s public safety dept amid online threats to Hindus

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Canada on Friday said that acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in the country amid the circulation of an online video in which Hindu Canadians are told to leave the country.

  • Public Safety Canada, the department responsible for matters of public safety, emergency management, national security, and emergency preparedness, said the circulation of the video is offensive and hateful and is an affront to all Canadians and “the values we hold dearly”.
  • “There is no place in Canada for hate,” it said in a post on X.
  • “Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us. We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities,” it added.
  • The video was circulated amid tensions flared between India and Canada following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegations of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on his country’s soil on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

• Sep 22, 2023 09:57 AM IST

  View: How Trudeau’s allegations over Nijjar killing exposes western double standards

  Rather than providing proof of its so-called agents involved in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau indicted the Narendra Modi government for a crime that it had not committed. Read the opinion piece here

• Sep 22, 2023 09:27 AM IST

  Rapper Shubh says he is ‘disheartened’ after cancellation of his tour: ‘India is my country too. Punjab is my soul’

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Canada-based singer-rapper Shubhneet Singh aka Shubh has issued a statement after his Still Rollin India tour was cancelled over his alleged controversial social media post. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, he said that he was ‘extremely disheartened’ as he was ‘enthusiastic to perform in my country, in front of my people’.

• Sep 22, 2023 09:11 AM IST

  India-Canada row: Flooded with calls from Punjabis in Canada – Sukhbir after meeting Shah

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said that he is “deeply concerned” over India’s indefinite suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens as it affects lakhs of Punjabis residing as overseas nationals of Indian origin or as students in that country. 

  • India’s visa processing centre in Canada suspended services citing “operational reasons” amid the ongoing rift that started after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. 
  • After the public allegation, both India and Canada expelled diplomats and then India issued an advisory for Indians in Canada, urging them to exercise utmost caution.

• Sep 22, 2023 08:52 AM IST

  India is not Russia and is different from China: US NSA Jake Sullivan

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Washington is in touch with Delhi on Canada’s allegations over Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, and there can be no “special exemption” for actions like “these” as the US will defend its basic principles, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Thursday.

  • Sullivan also said that India is not Russia and is different from China, which poses a different set of challenges, in response to a question on why the United States is giving a “free pass” on Beijing and Delhi on Russian aggression and, in India’s case, other bilateral issues.
  • Addressing a White House press briefing, Sullivan reaffirmed that the US was deeply concerned about Canada’s allegations, supported its investigation and wanted perpetrators to be brought to justice.

• Sep 22, 2023 08:22 AM IST

  Act against pro-Khalistan elements targeting diplomats, India tells Canada

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: India on Thursday bluntly told Canada to act against pro-Khalistan elements with links to organised crime that are targeting Indian diplomats, even as it said that Ottawa has not shared any specific information to back up their allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

  • On the contrary, External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing that Canada needs to act on “very specific evidence” shared by India on criminal activities by terrorists and extremists based on Canadian soil. 
  • He also pointed to Pakistan’s involvement in funding and supporting these elements in Canada. 
  • The sharp messaging came against the backdrop of the free fall in India-Canada relations since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed on Monday to a “potential link” between Indian government agents and the slaying of Nijjar, a man that was designated as terrorist by India.

• Sep 22, 2023 08:04 AM IST

  India-Canada news: Allegations not made lightly, says Trudeau

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated his call for India to take allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani secessionist Hardeep Singh Nijjar seriously.

  • India has dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and accused Canada of becoming a “safe haven” for terrorists. 
  • The growing diplomatic row has led to India temporarily suspending visa services for Canadians. 
  • Trudeau stated that there is no question over India’s growing importance and that Canada is unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians and standing up for values. 
  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is leading the investigation into Nijjar’s killing.

• Sep 22, 2023 07:52 AM IST

  India-Canada row: With 18 cases against him in Punjab, Sukha was Bambiha gang’s handler

  Fugitive gangster Sukhdool Singh alias Sukha Duneke, who was mainly involved in organised criminal activities but had a limited association with terror activities, is the son of a Moga resident, who was shot dead by ‘militants’ in the early 90s. 

  • As per reports, Duneke was allegedly shot dead in Canada’s Winnipeg by a rival gang.
  • Police officials said, Duneke, along with gangster Lucky Patyal (who is believed to be in the US), was handling the activities of the Bambiha gang from abroad. 
  • He was handling the funding of the Bambiha gang. Duneke, who hails from Moga’s Duneke village, had been closely associated with the designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla, a key figure in the Khalistan Tiger Force. 
  • He was involved in the killing of kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in 2022 and the killing of Dayal Das, deputy head of Dera Harka Das at Kot Sukhia village in Faridkot in 2019. He had taken a contract to kill Das.

• Sep 22, 2023 07:39 AM IST

  Nijjar killing: Concerned by Canada’s charges, in contact with both countries, says US NSA

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: The United States is deeply concerned about Canada’s allegations (of the possible links between agents of the government of India and a killing of a Sikh terrorist in Canada), it fully supports the investigation and it would like to see perpetrators brought to justice, American national security advisor Jake Sullivan has said. 

  • At a press briefing in the White House on Thursday, Sullivan also said that there is “no wedge” between the US and Canada — which is both a neighbour and among America’s closest allies — on the issue and the US will continue to publicly stick to its position on the issue till it plays out.
  • Sullivan said that the US had been in touch with the Indian government as well.

• Sep 22, 2023 07:29 AM IST

  Hardeep Nijjar killing: Surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada led to allegations, says report

  India-Canada news LIVE updates: Canada’s belief that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar may be based on intercepting communications between Indian officials in the country while receiving inputs from another Western nation.

  • The outlet CBC News reported on Thursday that the government had “amassed both human and signals intelligence in a months-long investigation”.
  • It cited Canadian government sources saying that there was intelligence available based on “communications involving Indian officials themselves, including Indian diplomats present in Canada”.
  • Some of the intelligence was shared by another nation in the ‘Five Eyes’ alliance. That group includes, other than Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

• Sep 22, 2023 07:13 AM IST

  India-Canada news: Biden raised issue of Nijjar’s murder with PM Modi at G20, says report

  U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders expressed concern to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit this month about Canadian claims that New Delhi was involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

  • Several members of the Five Eyes — an intelligence-sharing network that includes the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — raised the June killing in British Columbia of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, with Modi, the newspaper said, citing three people familiar with the discussions at the summit.
  • The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the FT report