'Disinformation campaign to malign India': MEA on Canadian media report on visa-halt for Khalistanis

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday reaffirmed India's stance on protecting its sovereign interests and addressed Canadian media reports alleging that New Delhi denied visas to Canadian Khalistanis.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the report an example of a 'disinformation campaign' by Canadian media.

"We have seen media reports about this. It is yet another example of Canadian media's disinformation campaign to malign India," said Jaiswal.


He said that India has a legitimate right to protect its interests from those who threaten the country's integrity.

"Granting of Indian visas is our sovereign function and we have the legitimate right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity, said the MEA spokesperson.

Further, Jaiswal drew parallels between commentary by Canadian media on India and foreign interferences in New Delhi's internal matters.

"The commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India’s sovereign affairs," added Jaiswal.

Canadian media report's allegations

A recent Canadian media report alleged that India is using the denial of visas to Khalistani Canadians as a tool to suppress dissent and silence critics.

The report, published by Global News, quotes interviews with Sikh Canadians who claim that Indian consular officials are leveraging travel visas as a means of silencing pro-Khalistani voices.

According to the report, Indian diplomats are requiring Khalistani applicants to submit letters renouncing the Khalistan movement as part of the visa application process.

Among those featured in the Global News report is Bikramjit Singh Sandhar, a prominent Khalistani separatist and former president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Sandhar is quoted describing how he was personally affected by this visa manipulation. His gurdwara was the site of the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani separatist, which has since led to heightened tensions between India and Canada.

The report also touches on the strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada. In 2023, India temporarily suspended visa services in Canada, citing security concerns related to Khalistani extremists.

The Indian High Commission and consulates in Canada had become targets of threats, with American-Canadian Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist and leader of the banned Sikhs for Justice group, offering a $1 million reward for the “citizen’s arrest” of the Indian High Commissioner in Canada.

Reports of attacks on Indians

In recent months, tensions have flared again, with reports of violent disruptions at Indian consular events in Canada. In one such incident, a consular camp held at the Hindu Sabha Temple near Toronto was violently interrupted by pro-Khalistani groups.

The disruption, which involved targeting women and children outside the temple, led to widespread outrage and calls for better protection for the Indian diaspora in Canada. A Sikh Canadian police officer, who was in civil dress at the time, was reportedly among the individuals involved in the disruption.

As a result, the Consulate General of India in Toronto canceled several upcoming consular camps across the country. Indian officials cited a lack of adequate safety measures, following the disruptions, and Canadian police’s refusal to guarantee security at these events.