Angered by ‘objectionable’ language in rejection letters, home ministry demands apology, threatens retaliation; MEA’s meekness also irksome to department.
The Canadian high commission has triggered a potentially serious diplomatic row with India by transgressing the limits of propriety while rejecting visas for members of Indian security forces. Incensed by the “high-handed” attitude of the commission, the Union home ministry has decided to retaliate if Canada fails to make amends within a week.
“By making objectionable remarks while rejecting the visa of former Intelligence Bureau (IB) official SS Sidhu, the first secretary (immigration) of the Canadian high commission S Auger has virtually challenged the Indian government,” said home ministry sources.
Sidhu, assigned to travel to Toronto in connection with the prime minister’s trip there next month, was denied a visa on
March 26, with the Canadian high commission saying that he belonged to the “inadmissible” category of persons.
The rejection letter said he could not be given a visa as he had served in an organisation like the IB and that led to apprehension that he could “engage in an act of espionage or subversion”, or “violence that would or might endanger the lives or safety of persons in Canada”. Sidhu termed it as a “disgusting reply from a friendly country like Canada and an insult to India”. He said he wanted to go to Canada just to see the new house of his daughter.
He was later allowed to travel after a protest from India. The denial of visas, over the last two years, has angered the home ministry which has warned that India would also “retaliate” by disallowing Canadian officials who go to Afghanistan via this country.
In another case, Lt Gen AS Bahia, a member of the defence appellate tribunal, found that his visa was rejected on the grounds that his unit, the Rashtriya Rifles, was involved in rights violations. The Canadian mission had earlier refused a visa to a retired Border Security Force constable citing that he was associated with a “notoriously violent” force.
In another report, it is revealed that two brigadiers were denied visas in 2008 and another in 2009; a retired lieutenant general, RN Batra, too was refused visa in 2008 on similar grounds.
Highly-placed sources said Union home secretary GK Pillai has written to his counterpart in the ministry of external affairs (MEA), Nirupama Rao, asking her to take up the matter with the Canadian high commission seriously.
“They should fully apologise and withdraw their comments against these visa seekers and remove the erring diplomat from India or else we would be compelled to deal with the Canadian citizens in a similar fashion,” a ministry source said.
The action has also been spurred by the “meek approach” of the MEA in the case of the former BSF official last week, the sources said.
On their part, MEA officials summoned the Canadian high commissioner and discussed the matter with him. Reacting to fresh cases of visa rejection, Nirupama Rao said the Indian high commission in Canada would take up the matter with the government there.
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