Putting Blackberry in isolation to be harmful for India: Canada

CHANDIGARH: Canada today cautioned India that putting Blackberry mobile phone device in isolation will be "counter productive" for New Delhi's endeavours to secure modern technology.

"Blackberry is one of the most popular electronic appliances...900 companies depend upon it...it should not be treated in isolation with other devices otherwise it will be harmful for India and counter productive for steps taken for modern technology," Canada's Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney told reporters here.

He was responding to the query pertaining to the controversy surrounding the move to ban Blackberry unless the Canadian maker of the phone RIM gave access to all its services to Indian security agencies.

"I am proud of the success of the Canadian company...we are encouraging India not to choke down such a technology," he said adding Blackberry should not be treated differently by any other rule pertaining to electronic devices in India.

He said he had taken up the issue with Home Minister P Chidambaram who had assured him of a "solution" to the controversy surrounding the Blackberry.

On the recent refusal of visa to certain police officers and BSF personnel by Canadian government on the ground of "violation" of human rights, he said the Canadian government had been reviewing the inadmissibility findings of law while handling such applications.

"The law on the inadmissibility findings on which visa was refused was being reviewed by the government," he said adding however that Canada recognised India as a great democracy and respected the Indian Army and the work of security agencies here.