Should Indian students, diaspora worry amid souring Indo-Canada relations?

Tensions are high between India and Canada since prime minister Justin Trudeau hinted at New Delhi’s role in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has dismissed the charges as “absurd and motivated”. Amid the diplomatic rift, India’s foreign ministry issued an advisory today (20 September) for its nationals and students in Canada to exercise “utmost caution”. “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” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

This comes a day after Canada updated its travel advisory urging citizens to avoid travelling to Jammu and Kashmir “due to the unpredictable security situation”. “There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh,” the North American nation said. India and Canada have also expelled each other’s top diplomats. As the row escalates, should Indian students and diaspora in Canada worry? Let’s find out. Indian diaspora in Canada Canada is home to nearly 1.4 million people of Indian origin, about 3.7 per cent of the country’s total 40 million population. The population of Sikhs in Canada has more than doubled in 20 years, constituting about 770,000 people of the total Indian diaspora. After India’s Punjab state, Canada has the highest population of Sikhs. Canada is one of the most popular destinations for Indian immigrants, particularly from Punjab and Haryana. As per Mint, more than 100,000 Indians became permanent residents of Canada last year. Indian students in Canada Thousands of Indian students visit Canada every year to pursue higher education. Since 2018, Indians have made up the largest number of overseas students in Canada. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data, of the more than 800,000 international students in Canada last year, 40 per cent were from India. In 2022, the number of Indian students in Canada rose 47 per cent to nearly 320,000, as per the Canadian Bureau of International Education. [caption id=“attachment_13147542” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Since 2018, Indians have made up the largest number of overseas students in Canada. Reuters Representational Image[/caption] ALSO READ: Why Justin Trudeau has been ‘soft’ on Khalistani extremists in Canada Should the Indian diaspora in Canada worry? As per a News18 report, Indian intelligence agencies have warned about “aggressive and intensified” activities against Indians and government officials living in Canada. The agencies have cautioned that pro-Khalistani entities (PKE) could target Indians, temples and businesses run by Indian entrepreneurs. There are also concerns about the security of the office of the Indian High Commission in Canada as protests by Khalistani groups against Indian officials are likely to intensify, News18 reported. A report in Hindustan Times (HT) has claimed that pro-Khalistan groups will stage protests outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada on 25 September. There are 21 pro-Khalistan separatists in Canada currently, the newspaper noted. Analysts fear that crumbling ties between India and Canada could affect the economic interests of the Sikh families in Punjab, whose relatives in the North American nation remit millions of dollars back home, reported Reuters. What about Indian students and nationals? The nosedive in the relations has made Indian students aspiring to study in Canada anxious about their future. “I cleared my IELTS (International English Language Testing System) just last month, and now I’m researching various universities in Canada, as my ultimate dream is to settle there after my studies. However, I’m afraid the Canadian embassy may deny me a student visa,” Vikramjit Singh Arora, a student from Jalandhar, told Indian Express. However, educational consultants do not believe the student influx from India to Canada will halt, given their economic contribution to the North American country, reported Mint. “Every year, 40 per cent of international students migrating to Canada are from India. Canada can’t ignore such a substantial source of income. Now, we must see how both countries handle travelers’ entry at their respective borders. Some students may bear the brunt of this development,” consultant Gurpreet Singh said, as per Indian Express. According to Mint, companies that have tie-ups with universities and offices in Canada are also on the edge about a likely increased scrutiny of applications from Punjab and Haryana, making it difficult for immigrant visa applications to be approved. “This will show up in the visa approvals in the long term. The success ratio of student visas for Canada is just 60 per cent and may come down further. Students focusing on just Canada need to keep other options," Ankur Dhawan, president of upGrad Abroad, was quoted as saying by Mint. Not students but Indians applying for immigrant visas might have to feel the ripple effects of the downturn in relations between New Delhi and Ottawa. “Immigration visas will be a larger concern than student visas. Canadian authorities increased their scrutiny over the last year on applicants’ documents, and now that will increase," Ankit Mehra, co-founder and chief executive of GyanDhan, a non-banking financial company (NBFC), told Mint. Canadian PR (Permanent Residency) applicants are also worried after the recent developments. Speaking to Indian Express, a Jalandhar-based couple who had applied for Canadian PR, said: “We have been eagerly awaiting our PR status by the end of this year, but now we fear it might get delayed. Even if relations improve, there could still be a few months’ delay”. With inputs from agencies