India resumes select visa services in Canada amid diplomatic tensions
New Delhi: India has decided to resume certain visa services in Canada, including entry, business, medical, and conference visas, following a month-long suspension. The move comes amidst strained relations between New Delhi and Ottawa, primarily due to the killing of Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa issued a statement stating that after a thorough review of the security situation, taking recent Canadian measures into account, the decision to restart visa services was made. However, tourist visas remain excluded from this resumption.
Visa services were temporarily suspended last month due to heightened security threats to Indian missions and diplomats. In July, Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Verma, and Consul General in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava, were targeted in posters allegedly circulated by Sikh extremists. These posters accused them of involvement in Nijjar's killing.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the paramount importance of diplomats' safety and security, stating that the decision to halt visa issuance in Canada was made to ensure the well-being of Indian diplomatic staff.
Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that authorities were investigating potential links between Indian government agents and Nijjar's killing. India dismissed these allegations as baseless and motivated, leading to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries.
Last week, the Canadian government withdrew 41 diplomats and 42 dependents, asserting that India's request for diplomatic parity was a violation of international law and the Vienna Convention. Canadian officials criticized India's response as "unreasonable and escalatory."
India countered these allegations, citing the need for mutual diplomatic presence based on the bilateral relations between the two nations. Government sources referred to Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), highlighting India's right to limit the size of diplomatic missions based on what it deems reasonable and normal.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
