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    India extends consular services for Indian nationals in Canada

    Synopsis

    The Consulate General of India in Toronto has announced an extension of consular services for Indian nationals in Canada. The services include passport issuance, attestation, police clearance certificate, and passport renewal. This extension comes after the Ministry of External Affairs advised Indian nationals and students in Canada to exercise caution due to the strain in relations between the two countries.

    Diplomatic spat: India extends passport and consular services for its citizens in Canada
    Amid the deterioration of diplomatic ties between India and Canada, the Consulate General of India in Toronto on Saturday announced that is has extended consular services for Indian nationals in Canada.

    Services extended include passport issuance, attestation, police clearance certificate and passport renewal.

    "Consular services for Indian nationals in Canada, e.g. Passport issuance, Passport renewal, Police Clearance Certificate, Attestation etc. continue to be extended," the Consulate said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    The extension comes just days after the Ministry of External Affairs advised Indian nationals and students in Canada to exercise caution amid the recent strain in relations between the two countries.

    According to a release issued by the MEA on September 23, Indian nationals and Indian students in Canada were advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen growing anti-India activities.

    "In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution. Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda," the press release read.

    Indian nationals and students in Canada must also register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites or the MADAD portal madad.gov.in.

    "Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant," MEA said in the press release.

    These advisories come after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, earlier this week, accused India of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar - a Khalistan activist and designated terrorist in India - in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

    India rejected these allegations, calling them 'absurd' and 'motivated'. This was followed by the expulsion of a senior Canadian diplomat from India.

    With inputs from ANI
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