The Canadian government noted the “presence of landmines” as well as unexploded weapons in the Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan states that border Pakistan. On September 27, the travel advice on the Canadian government’s website was modified.
It is interesting to note that the warning webpage was updated soon after the Indian government criticized the Canadian government for failing to take action against anti-Indian groups operating out of Canada.
Due to the unpredictability of the security situation and the existence of landmines and unexploded ordnance, the advice advises against traveling to any locations within 10 kilometers of the Pakistani border in Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
The warning urges Canadians to take extreme vigilance because it claims there are threats of terrorist strikes across the nation.
Indian citizens and students studying in Canada were urged to exercise caution earlier on September 23 due to occurrences of hate crimes and anti-Indian activities in the nation. The warning was issued after separatists and sympathizers of the Khalistani movement damaged the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple earlier this month.
India claimed that their Indian colleagues had brought up these cases to the Canadian authorities and asked them to look into the offenses. The external affairs ministry stated in the alert that the offenders of these crimes have not yet been brought to justice in Canada.
Chandra Arya, a member of parliament for Canada’s Nepean constituency, brought up the same problem as well. He added that increasing rates of violence and vandalism had left some Indian Canadians and Hindu Canadians living in fear.
In addition, the MEA advised Indian nationals and students to register with the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, the Indian Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, or the MADAD portal at madad.gov.in.
The Khalistan referendum in Brampton has also angered India, which referred to it as a hoax. This is in addition to the attacks on the Swaminarayan Temple.
News Mania Desk
