New Delhi, May 27: A diplomatic row between India and Canada is threatening to erupt over denial of visas to the officials of the country’s security and intelligence establishments.
Angry over Canada discriminating against these officials, the Union home ministry has requested the ministry of external affairs ( MEA) to raise the matter strongly with the Canadian government.
The home ministry has, in fact, threatened to retaliate in the same manner. An official warned that if Canada continued with this trend, India could also block visits to Afghanistan by Canadians who use India as a transit point.
It has come to light that the Canadian high commission in New Delhi not only rejected the visa applications of four serving and as many retired officers since 2008 but also made insulting remarks against India’s security and intelligence units.
Home secretary G. K. Pillai is believed to have shot off a letter to foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, asking the MEA to lodge a strong protest with Canada.
The home ministry has reportedly demanded that the Canadian mission issue an apology and withdraw all objectionable comments made by its officials against the army, the Intelligence Bureau ( IB) and the Border Security Force ( BSF). Sources said the ministry also wants action against the officials concerned for making such comments against the Indian organisations.
A retired IB officer, S. S. Sidhu, complained to the home ministry that his temporary resident visa application was rejected twice this year. He wanted to visit his children who are settled in Canada.
Sidhu said he was “disgusted” as the Canadian mission told him that he fell in the category of inadmissible persons because he had worked with an organisation that was involved in spying activities. Hence, he could engage in an act of espionage or subversion or violence that or might endanger the lives or safety of the people in Canada.
Another serving IB officer in the rank of deputy director, who had been tasked to visit Toronto ahead of PM Manmohan Singh’s trip for the G-20 summit in June, was also initially denied visa. It was after the home ministry took up his case strongly with the MEA and the Canadian high commissioner was summoned that the officer finally got visa.
Retired Lt-Gen A.S. Bahia wasn’t that lucky. He, too, has complained to the Centre that his visa application was rejected last month on the ground that he had served in Jammu & Kashmir for the Indian army. A decorated military officer, Bahia is now a member of the Armed Forces Tribunal in Chandigarh and has served in the Rashtriya Rifles in J&K in the past.
Retired Lt- Gen R. N. Bhatia was also refused visa in 2008 on similar grounds. The Centre also received complaints that two serving Brigadiers were denied visa by Canada in 2008 and another serving Brigadier was meted out the same treatment in 2009.
All these cases have tumbled out following the revelation made by a retired BSF head constable last week that he had been denied visa by Canada on the ground that he had been associated with a “ notoriously violent” unit that indulged in “ war crimes” and human rights violations.
Canada has apparently cited Amnesty International reports to substantiate its allegations against Indian security forces, a source in the home ministry said.
The government said it had taken note of the cases. “ The matter has been appropriately taken up with the Canadian authorities. We are very concerned about the matter and are in touch with Canadian side on the issue,” MEA spokesperson, Vishnu Prakash said on Wednesday.
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao had on Tuesday said: “ The matter, when it was brought to the attention of the ministry of external affairs, was taken up immediately and appropriately with the Canadian high commission and, of course, the Canadian government.
We take this matter very seriously.”
‘ NO ENTRY’ FOR ARMY & IB MEN
Canada denied immigration visa to retired BSF constable Fateh Singh Pandher, contending that he was associated with “ a notoriously violent” paramilitary unit that was involved in “ systematic attacks on civilians” and “ crimes against humanity”
Rejected the visa application of retired senior Intelligence Bureau officer S. S. Sidhu on ground that he had worked with an organisation that was involved in spying and hence he could engage in an act of espionage or subversion or violence that might endanger the safety of people in Canada
Refused visa to a serving IB deputy director who was assigned to travel to Toronto in connection with PM’s trip next month. After the government’s intervention, he was granted visa
Rejected the visa application of retired army officer Lieutenant- General A. S. Bahia and his wife in April because he had served in Jammu and Kashmir
Retired Lt- Gen R. N. Batra was also refused visa in 2008 on similar grounds. Two serving Brigadiers, too, were denied visas in 2008 and another Brigadier in 2009
—Agencies