Indian nationals living in Canada now have access to more consular services through the Indian Consulate General in Toronto. The expanded consular services now include passport renewal, attestation, police clearance certificates, and passport issuance.

The Indian Consulate General in Toronto announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “Consular services for Indian nationals in Canada, e.g. Passport issuance, Passport renewal, Police Clearance Certificate, Attestation, etc. continue to be extended.”

On September 20, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a warning to Indian citizens, Canadian students, and those who were considering visiting the country due to the recent deterioration in relations between the two nations.

Indian citizens and students in Canada are warned against visiting areas and possible locations in Canada where there have been an increase in anti-Indian activities, the MEA said in a statement on Wednesday.

All Indian nationals in Canada and those considering travel are asked to take the utmost caution in light of escalating anti-India activities, politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence, and other related issues. Threats have recently targeted Indian diplomats in particular as well as Indians who disagree with the anti-India agenda, according to a press statement from MEA.

Additionally, Indian citizens and students studying in Canada must register with the MADAD portal at madad.gov.in, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, the Indian Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver, or both.

According to the MEA, registration will make it easier for the High Commission and Consulates General to communicate with Indian people living in Canada in the event of an emergency or other unfavorable situation.

Indian students in particular are asked to exercise extra caution and maintain vigilance due to the deteriorating security environment in Canada, MEA stated in the press statement.

After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday accused the Indian government of being behind the deadly shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, tensions between India and Canada have risen. On June 18, Nijjar, a terrorist identified in India, was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia.

India refuted the accusations made by the Canadian PM on Tuesday, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.” The expulsion of a senior Canadian diplomat from India followed this. In a formal statement, MEA stated that it had “heard and rejects the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as well as the statement of their Foreign Minister.”

The announcement continued, “Allegations of the Indian government’s “involvement in any act of violence in Canada are motivated and baseless. MEA stated in the press statement that “Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister and were completely rejected.”

Source- The print
Link- https://theprint.in/world/india-extends-consular-services-for-indian-nationals-in-canada/1774316/