Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar has taken up this matter with his counterpart too. (file)
New Delhi:
India has welcomed the humane approach taken by the Canadian government in the deportation of Indian students facing action over fake “admission offer” letters they acquired from dubious education consultants, sources said. Most of these students went to Canada from 2017 to 2019, some also acquired work permits, they said.
India has been taking up the matter with Canadian authorities, in Canada and in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up with matter with his Canadian counterpart.
“Canadian authorities were repeatedly urged to be fair and take a humanitarian approach since the students were not at fault,” sources said.
“It was also pointed out that there were gaps in the Canadian system and a lack of diligence, owing to which the students were granted visas and also allowed to enter Canada,” it added.
The Indian consulate officials in Toronto have met these protesting students.
Less than 700 students, most of them from Punjab, face deportation soon, but some recent developments have kindled hope. Lovepreet Singh, an Indian student scheduled to be deported from Canada on Tuesday, has got some relief after the Canadian government put the move on hold.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday gave students the hope that all is not lost, when he said his government was focused on identifying “the culprits, not penalising the victims.”
“We are deeply aware of cases of international students facing removal orders over fraudulent college acceptance letters,” Mr Trudeau said in Canada.
“Victims of fraud will have an opportunity to demonstrate their situations and present evidence to support their cases,” he added.
A Canadian parliamentary committee has voted unanimously to urge the border services agency to stop the deportation of Indian students, who were duped by unscrupulous education consultants in India.
“It is welcome that the consistent efforts by the government of India have been instrumental in the Canadian government adopting a humane approach and taking on board the perspective of the students,” sources said.