Canada urges travelers to ‘exercise high degree of caution’ when visiting India

TRENTON, Canada

Canada warned travelers on Monday to “exercise a high degree of caution” if going to India due to a breakdown in relations between the two countries over the assassination of a Sikh-Canadian leader.

“In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada on social media,” said an update to the Canadian government’s travel advisory. “Please remain vigilant and exercise caution.”

Tensions rose between the two countries after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged publicly last week that India was involved in the assassination of a Sikh-Canadian leader outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia in June.

India insisted that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a terrorist who was part of a militant movement to carve out an independent Sikh state in Khalistan in India’s Punjab region.

Trudeau said there were “credible allegations” that New Delhi was implicated in the murder, which was committed by two masked gunmen. No arrests have been made.

After Trudeau’s accusation, which also called for India to cooperate in an investigation into Nijjar’s killing, Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat.

The Indian government reacted strongly, calling the allegations “absurd,” and in a tit-for-tat move expelled a Canadian representative.

In addition, New Delhi froze visa services for Canadians. The government issued a travel advisory of its own, telling Indian citizens that “in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution.”

In particular, New Delhi said that Indian students in Canada should “exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.”