The Indo-Canadian Crisis: Who Does It Affect?

The Indo-Canadian relations have always been great, from trade to immigration, and both countries have always benefited from all the inter-country activities. In the last decade, the immigration situation from India to Canada has witnessed an increase, due to higher and better educational and work opportunities. According to the Ministry of External Affairs of India, there are more than 16 lakh people of Indian origin in Canada, this number constitutes about 3.7% of Canada’s total population. Canada has become the favourite destination for students to pursue their higher education, which has led to the ties between the two nations to become stronger. Since many businesses have started their ventures in Canada with the head office back at home in India, the economies of both countries have observed an exponential boost. 

While both countries were making the most of this situation and enjoying the benefits that they got because of their immigration relations, on the 18th of June, 2023 Harjeet Singh Nijjar a Canadian Khalistaan Movement supporter was shot dead outside the Gurudwara in Canada. Back in 2014, Nijjar was identified as a terrorist by the Indian Government and after his death, the Canadian Intelligence Service found solid evidence that the killing of the leader was conducted by the Agents of the Indian Government when confronted the Indian Government reflected such allegations and that’s when political tension arose between the two nations. The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau was invited to attend the G20 Summit in India and while on his visit he asked for a 20-minute meeting with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, however, that could not happen, leading to Indo-Canadian relations to worsen. A lot of adverse steps were taken by the two nations trade was restricted, diplomats from the other country were sent back home and the Indian Government even suspended visas for Canadian Citizens, after all these actions the issue between the two countries continues to rise and is not settling down. 

Indian Students applying for Canadian study permits are tensed and worried as the solution to this problem seems too far off as of now. Even though there is no official statement from the Canadian Government, students and parents currently in India are worried about visa acceptance and travel plans. Students have been patiently waiting for their universities to start the January intake, and this situation has greeted the students with a carrier of bad news and fear. If the relations between the two countries keep deteriorating, the students might also have to face difficult consequences.

Life as an international student has not been easy lately because of the high inflation rates in Canada. The living expenses of the students have increased, and job availability has decreased but the one thing that keeps them going is the possibility of a better future and an accomplishment of a higher standard of living. However, if the country that they are currently residing in has strained relations with their home country, it all might just become too much to handle for these hard-working students and their parents, which is why the Indo-Canadian relations need to get better.