Aakhir Tak – In Shorts:
- Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly hinted at potential sanctions on India.
- India has several strong retaliatory measures available against Canada.
- Actions may include recalling students, revoking OCI cards, and imposing trade sanctions.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth:
Tensions between India and Canada have escalated after Canada accused India of promoting criminal activities on its soil. In response, both countries expelled each other’s high commissioners. Now, Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has suggested that “everything is on the table” when asked about imposing sanctions on India. If Canada takes this step, India has various options to retaliate. Shiv Aroor, Senior Executive Editor with India Today TV, outlines several key actions India could take if Canada escalates the situation further.
Recalling Indian students:
India may choose to recall the nearly 250,000 Indian students currently studying in Canada. This would severely impact Canada’s educational system, which relies heavily on tuition fees from Indian students, leading to financial instability in its education sector.
Revoking OCI Cards:
India could revoke the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards of Canadian citizens of Indian origin sympathetic to pro-Khalistan movements. This step would significantly limit their rights and force many to reconsider their stance.
Suspension of migrant rights:
India could also suspend property rights for Khalistan supporters, delay visa approvals, and tighten scrutiny on new visa applications. This could create significant challenges for supporters and cause internal friction within the Indian community in Canada.
Trade sanctions and financial pressure:
India may impose trade sanctions on Canada, disrupting economic ties. As one of Canada’s top trading partners, India could further aggravate the existing trade imbalance. Additionally, India could freeze Canadian financial institutions and pension funds with investments in India, though this remains a last-resort option.
