During Justin Trudeau’s tenure, Canada has taken a diplomatic disagreement with India to an unprecedented level. The Canadian Government has provided peculiar explanations to its citizens, urging them to exercise caution when visiting India.
The reasons — strange and exaggerated — include extreme weather conditions, frequent train accidents, forced marriages, incidents of rape and sexual assaults in yoga centres and ashrams, as well as the overall poor road conditions across the country.
This travel demarche has been issued at a time when India and Canada find themselves entangled in a diplomatic dispute over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
“Forced marriage affecting foreigners occurs, sometimes without the affected person’s prior knowledge or consent and some Canadians have been forced into marital arrangements and have been detained against their will,” reads the advisory.
“They have been subjected to threats, intimidation and violence by family members,” claimed the advisory uploaded on Canada’s official website travel.gc.ca.
Highlighting women’s safety issue, it warned that reports of rape and assault against foreign women have increased. “You should be particularly vigilant in Delhi, Goa, and at yoga centres, ashrams and other places of spiritual retreats. If you are travelling to India to meet someone you have otherwise only met online, you may be the victim of a scam,” it warned.
“Be alert to attempts at fraud by persons who profess friendship or romantic interest over the internet,” it said.
“Crimes committed against women frequently occur in India. Foreign women are often the target of unwanted attention. Staring, verbal abuse, groping, and other forms of sexual harassment can occur anywhere, including in tourist sites and areas. Attackers sometimes act in a group,” it said, adding, credit card and ATM frauds also occur.
According to the advisory. India is prone to extreme weather events such as avalanches, cyclones, dust storms, earthquakes, floods, landslides and extreme temperatures that can occur in both spring and summer.
Advising people to limit their activities outdoors, the advisory said smoke haze and other types of air pollution can be extremely hazardous in urban areas and cities like Delhi.
“It is typically at its worst in winter. In rural areas, air quality can be affected by agricultural burning. Dust storms also occur across northern India,” it said.
The advisory further said demonstrations/mass gatherings, general strikes, “bandh” or “hartal,” take place frequently.
“Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. Stampedes have occurred during mass gatherings, including religious ceremonies, and resulted in deaths and injuries. Local authorities may impose curfews and other restrictions at short notice. Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place,” it advised.
The advisory also cautioned that road conditions and road safety are poor throughout the country. Most roads, including major highways, are poorly maintained.
“There is severe traffic congestion. Driving conditions may be hazardous during the rainy season, and some roads can become impassable. India has an extensive passenger train system. Rail accidents are common, mostly due to poor maintenance. Thefts are frequent on certain train lines,” it said.
The advisory warns people against travelling to States like Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home State, Punjab and Rajasthan, which share borders with Pakistan, due to presence of “landmines”.
The advisory said petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching, is common.
“Criminals may target foreigners, especially in major cities and tourist areas. Petty crime frequently occurs on public transportation and overnight trains, it said. However, serious crime against foreigners is less frequent, but incidents do occur, it cautioned.
The Canada Government advisory also warned that tourist areas and airports are of particular concern where scammers particularly target foreigners.
“Scams involving the exportation of jewels, gemstones, carpets, and other items have occurred. Taxi drivers may approach you, offering money to export such items,” it said.
Amid the diplomatic row over the killing of Nijjar, Canada has further updated its travel advisory for its citizens in India to “remain vigilant and exercise caution”.
Tensions flared between the two countries after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s explosive allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Nijjar, 45, on his country’s soil on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.
In a riposte, India dubbed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.
New Delhi also announced temporarily suspending issuance of visas to Canadian citizens in view of “security threats” faced by its High Commission and consulates in Canada.
