The Centre has cancelled Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards and long-term (LT) visas of people of Indian origin found involved in anti-India activities.

According to sources, this action was taken against those who indulged in anti-India activities in the guise of supporting the ongoing farmers’ protest against three farm laws enacted by the Centre. However, the number of cancelled OCI cards and LT visas haven’t been disclosed yet.

“Many Indians, including students, used offensive language against India during the protests that are in our notice. A dozen such individuals have been blacklisted and they will be repatriated from the Indian airports upon their arrival,” said sources as quoted by TOI.

This initiative was started following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Canada in 2015 and discussions were held between Indian intermediaries and former votaries of Khalistan in the country as well some in the United Kingdom.

As Khalistani elements in Canada turned up against the peace of the country and started anti-farm law protests in the country, India ensured strict action against them by cancelling some OCI cards, across several countries, including the United States.

According to former high commissioner to Canada Vishnu Prakash, the effort had “mixed results” even as the government had “been reaching out and responding to the overtures of former Khalistani sympathisers”, as quoted by HT.

The new measures, a senior Indian official said, were meant as a “warning” to those indulging in anti-India activities in countries like Canada. “The behaviour and false propaganda of the Khalistani elements against agricultural reforms in India is pretty disappointing,” Prakash said.

The new measures were discussed following the surge in such activity from December 2020. Other than the cancellation of the OCI cards, a senior official said, there were “strong checks put in place and diligence so that only those genuinely in need” were issued these documents.

It has been noticed that in several countries, particularly Canada, Indian students studying there have been participating in anti-India protests outside missions. The government has reportedly identified at least 12 such persons. If they try to travel to India, the Immigration Department has been advised to send them back to their origin of travel nation.

In September, India registered a protest with the Canadian government over some comments made by a few political leaders of that country on the issue of farmers’ agitation, which, it claimed, was “interference in the internal matter”. India had asserted that it was not acceptable to it.

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