Visa Policy Row: India Asserts Sovereign Right Against Canadian Allegations

 The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a firm rebuttal to reports alleging that visas are being denied to Canadian citizens with links to or sympathies toward the Khalistan movement. The MEA stated that decisions on visa issuance are solely within India's sovereign jurisdiction and not a matter for Canadian authorities to question.

Responding to claims published by Global News, a Canadian outlet, Indian MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the reports as an example of misinformation aimed at undermining India. "We have the legal right to deny visas to those who threaten our territorial integrity," Jaiswal emphasized. He further criticized Canadian media narratives on the matter, describing them as undue foreign interference in India's internal and sovereign affairs.

The Global News report had claimed that individuals with Khalistan ties or sympathies were being denied Indian visas, even for personal reasons such as visiting family. The outlet characterized this as a breach of freedom of expression. However, India's position remains firm: such decisions are necessary to safeguard national security and territorial integrity.

Amid rising tensions, the MEA has also advised Indian citizens and students in Canada to exercise heightened caution, citing deteriorating security conditions in the country. This advisory reflects ongoing concerns over the safety of Indians in Canada, further underscoring the strained relations between the two nations.