A recent disclosure made by retired Indian diplomat Vivek Katju has brought into focus the significant challenges faced by retired security personnel when seeking Canadian visas, particularly those who have previously served in counter-terrorism operations in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir.
In a conversation with India Today, Vivek Katju, a former ambassador, shed light on the prevailing situation, emphasizing that "Canada consistently denies visas to members of our security forces who have served in Jammu and Kashmir. Canada has also refused visas to members of our services, a matter we typically do not discuss."
Numerous senior officers from the Punjab Police Force have also encountered substantial obstacles in their endeavors to secure Canadian visas. One retired official, who previously held the rank of Additional Inspector General (AIG) in Punjab Police, and his family submitted visa applications over a year ago but have not received any response from the Canadian authorities thus far. Interestingly, a close relative of the officer managed to secure a visa within just one month and has already departed for Canada.
Preferring to remain anonymous, the retired officer expressed his sentiments, saying, "The Army, paramilitary forces, and Punjab Police have been at the forefront of the fight against terror. However, Canada's actions have been unjust in singling out individuals. I am hesitant to disclose my identity, as this could put my family at risk in Canada, where numerous Khalistani groups operate."
Another officer, who has served in Punjab Police's Intelligence Wing, echoed similar sentiments, remarking, "It is indeed ironic that gangsters and Khalistani extremists appear to operate freely in Canada, while those who have served in law enforcement agencies encounter bureaucratic hurdles."
The officer also disclosed that he is not the sole individual experiencing visa delays and that several others are seemingly caught in a never-ending wait for their visas.
Even a former Inspector General of Punjab Police, who retired in 2022, has been awaiting a Canadian visa for a year, although he declined to provide an official statement, stating, "It will serve no purpose."
Officers, speaking confidentially to India Today, disclosed that the Canadian visa application process is further complicated by the requirement for security personnel to divulge details about the locations where they have served.
Tejinder Singh Dhillon, a retired Inspector General of Police from the Central Reserve Police Force since 2010, found himself declared inadmissible under a subsection of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Despite being a decorated officer and Commonwealth shooting coach who had visited Canada for over three decades, including during his service in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), he faced intrusive inquiries from Canadian officials regarding his tenure in "Kashmir" and "Operation Blue Star."
While Dhillon's wife was granted permission to travel to Toronto for a family wedding, Dhillon himself was initially denied. In response, he took proactive steps, leading the Canadian consulate to issue an apology and expedite his travel arrangements to attend the wedding.
Nevertheless, numerous serving and retired officers have voiced their concerns about alleged discrimination by Canadian authorities, asserting that serving in uniform does not equate to human rights violations and that there is no concrete evidence to support such claims.
