Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The number of study permits for Indian students in Canada is not expected to recover soon, according to a government official. This drop in permits is due to a diplomatic dispute that led to the expulsion of Canadian diplomats from India who processed the permits and a decrease in applications from Indian students.
The dispute was triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claim in June of evidence linking Indian government agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller told Reuters,“Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India.”
He added that it’s uncertain how relations between the two countries would progress, especially if charges were laid in connection with the murder.
“Right now we have a challenge with the sheer volume of students coming in,It’s just gotten out of control and needs to be reduced – I would say – significantly over a short period of time,” Miller added.
Miller also said that the Canadian government is also planning to introduce measures in the first half of this year to reduce the influx of international students, including a possible cap on numbers.