India-Canada rift puts students’ future in peril

New Delhi: The growing tensions between India and Canada have raised concerns among Indian parents whose children are studying in Canada with many stating that not only they are worried, but their children are also unable to put focus on their studies in Canada.

Speaking to reporters, Balwinder Singh whose daughter studies in Canada said, "We are worried, my daughter went to Canada to study, and it's been 7 months since she has left. There is news in the media that there is tension going on between both countries (India and Canada). My child is also worried there, she can't focus on her studies."

On the India-Canada row, Kuldeep Kaur, whose daughters study in Canada said that both governments should try to find a solution in the erupted controversy after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau PM Trudeau said that his country's national security officials had reasons to believe that "agents of the Indian government" carried out the killing of the Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. "My two daughters are in Canada and I am tensed. They have gone there to study. Govts of both countries should find a solution," Kuldeep Kaur said. Earlier, Canada's Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the "hateful comments" targeting Hindus in Canada. He stated that Hindus have made "invaluable contributions" to every part of Canada and added that the Hindu community "will always be welcome here."

Conservative leader Poilievre said that each Canadian deserves to live without fear in the country. His remarks come after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistan organisation banned in India in 2019, in a viral video, threatened Hindus of Indian origin and asked them to leave Canada.

Shiromani Akali Dal president and MP Sukhbir Singh Badal has earlier appealed to the Central Government to establish a good relationship with Canada soon to avoid ‘increasing panic’ among the citizens living there. Badal also met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and requested him to 'find a solution' over the matter soon.