The Government of Canada accepts many visa applications from Indians who intend to live and work in Canada. But its recent refusal of personnel who were former defense and intelligence officers has created quite a stir amongst the Indian scenario. With Nirupama Rao, the Indian Foreign Secretary reacting tough to the allegations made by the Canadian High Commission, the issue has come quite far.

There are more than 1 million immigrants living in Canada who are of Indian origin. Agreed that the decision on giving a visa permit totally rests with the visa officer and is highly discretionary in nature! At the same time, it is not apt on a nation’s part or a visa officer of a particular nation to act rather irresponsible and terming the armed forces of a nation as being violent. The defense personnel of a nation serve the country and in the process do not hesitate to lay down their lives. This can be considered as sheer insult to the uniform and the nation as a whole.

Even though the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi has practiced visa refusal over the recent years, but this concern has become an issue, when the Border Security Force of India demanded a public apology from Canada, following the most recent case of visa application rejection of Fateh Singh Pandher.

As per the latest news, the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney has expressed remorse over the row of visa rejection cases that has been recorded in the recent times. He was caught saying that both the countries- Canada and India have always maintained a cordial relation and the undesired incidents have made him uneasy. This is very unfortunate that the Canadian commission in the capital of India has created such an unfavorable situation among the Indian public service officials, as well as the political arena. The minister has further confirmed that he has the utmost respect for the sub-continent and its public institutions and their operations.

The question may look as if it holds an association merely with BSF or IB staff members, but in its broader perspective, it can be applauded as a big political issue involving the image of both the countries at stake. Can we depict the refusal of visas as a strong political statement from Canada’s side? Why is this prejudice coming against the Indian applicants from defense services and intelligence background?

Coming back to embarrassment which India as a country and the applicants had to face during this overall episode, does offering an apology serve the purpose and allow the Indian defense and intelligence officials who suffered against such failures to forget about their humiliation?

Crux says that the apology can be seen as damage control, but real purpose will be solved if all the files so closed and refused are reopened and visa granted to all concerned! Needless to say, corrective changes in the legislation should be carried out at the earliest so that such unfortunate events do not reoccur again.