Enraged at the Canadian High Commission repeatedly denying visa to serving and retired Indian security and intelligence officers, the Union Home Ministry has expressed the hope that Ottawa will take corrective measures soon.
Sources in the Ministry alleged discrimination by the High Commission and did not rule out taking tough steps if a satisfactory response was not forthcoming.
The Ministry has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to adopt a tough line over denial of visa to Indian security, defence and intelligence officials. Even political parties reacted with outrage at Canada's behaviour.
According to MEA sources, the number of those denied visa by the Canadian High Commission in the recent past was growing with each passing day.
The latest trigger was denial of a visa to a member of the Prime Minister's advance security liaison team, whose application was initially turned down. Among those denied visa are three serving Army officers, a former Director-General of Military Operations, a former Army Commander and a former Intelligence Bureau officer, S.S. Sidhu, who had undertaken two earlier visits to Canada. The cases came to light when a retired Border Security Force (BSF) head constable, Fateh Singh Pandher's application was rejected last December and he took up the matter with higher authorities.
The grounds for rejecting visa applications to Indian security and intelligence officials have ranged from human rights violations to terrorism. Home Ministry officials have described such grounds as “spurious and insulting” to India.
Home Secretary G.K. Pillai has written to Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, insisting that the MEA act tough and seek an apology from the High Commission and withdraw the officials who made the adverse comments against the security forces.
The Home Ministry wants an apology and other action from the High Commission within a week, warning that there will otherwise be retaliation and the Canadian officials going to Afghanistan via India will be denied permission.
On Thursday, the BJP accused the government of following a “very weak” foreign policy.
