World
Canada PM Justin Trudeau issues yet another bogus India travel advice to citizens
Canada has warned its citizens in India of the possibility of demonstrations, including 'anti-Canada protests' and 'intimidation or harassment'
FP Staff Last Updated:October 20, 2023 14:22:04 IST 
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. FILE/REUTERS.
After announcing withdrawal of 41 diplomats, Canada has updated its travel advisory for India, asking its citizen to “exercise a high degree of caution.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned Canadians in India of the possibility of demonstrations, including “anti-Canada protests” and “intimidation or harassment”.
The India-Canada relations have plunged after Trudeau last month linked Indian intelligence to the killing of Canada-based Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in July.
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India has called the allegations “absurd” and “motivated”.
Withdrawing its 41 diplomats, shutting down most of its embassies and consulates in India, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly claimed India had threatened to unilaterally revoke the diplomats’ official status by Friday unless they left.
She further alleged the move was “unreasonable and unprecedented and clearly violated the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.”
Canada’s latest advisory on India travel
“Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country,” Canada told its citizens travelling to India in its advisory.
It also listed out regional risks and asked Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai.”
The Canadian government said consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai or surrounding areas. “If you need consular services, contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa,” the advisory stated.
Also, Canada has asked its citizens to “avoid non-essential travel to Assam and Manipur “due to the risk of terrorism and insurgency.”
In its travel advisory, Canada has asked its people to “avoid all travel to the Union Territory of 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,” it further said.
The Canadian government has also asked its citizens to “avoid” all travel to areas within 10 km of the border with Pakistan in Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan “due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance.”
“This advisory excludes the Wagah border crossing,” it said.
The travel advisory from Ottawa also comes days after India advised all its citizens living in the Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise “utmost caution” given growing anti-India activities and “politically-condoned” hate crimes in the North American country.
