‘Majboori thi’: Jaishankar on suspending visa for Canada amid diplomatic row over Nijjar killing
Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in British Columbia's Surrey. What began as a tit-for-tat move in expelling diplomats from India and Canda aggravated to India suspending visa services for Canadian citizens on 21 September citing "security threats" faced by the Indian High Commission and consulates in Canada.
Jaishankar, who was in US meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NSA Jake Sullivan, later met reporters and said, "Majboori thi…humare diplomats, consulates ke khilaf hinsa ka prachar ho raha hai, kaise visa, office jane ka kam karenge, yeh law and order, Vienna convention ka issue hai (We were desperate. They [Canada] were perpetrating hate at our diplomats, consulates, how would people go to the visa office and get their work done? Law and order is an issue of the Vienna Convention) Jaishankar said the visa services had to be suspended because Indian diplomats and officials were unable to continue with their work as there were threats of constant violence to them.
“Under the Vienna Convention, it is the responsibility of every country to provide security to its embassy and those working in the embassy. Don't make it bilateral.
This environment is not in India...Social media postings, protests and threats are happening in Canada. They (the Canadian government) should take action there." Jaishankar added.
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