India-Canada Row: Day after India announced to resume of some visa services for Canadians, starting today, Canada on Thursday welcomed the move and said that it is a "good sign" after "anxious times", as the diplomatic row between the two countries over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar continued for over a month.

Canada's "good sign" remark came soon after India's high commission in Canada said that it would resume processing some types of visa applications for Canadians applying from across the country as well as abroad.

Terming the resumption of visa services a "good sign", Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller, as quoted by CTV News, said, "Our feeling is that a suspension should never have happened in the first place". "Really concerning the diplomatic situation with India has created a lot of fear in a lot of communities," Miller added.

Harjit Sajjan, Canada's Emergency Preparedness Minister, also welcomed India's move but wouldn't speculate on what message New Delhi is trying to send. "It's good to see that they have resumed that. It would have been nice (if) they didn't take it in the first place," Sajjan, as quoted by PTI, said. adding that "Ottawa is still seeking India's help as police investigate the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar."

In a statement, the Canada-India Business Council said it was "a promising development" for trade relations. "It is also a positive sign that both governments have expressed their support for bilateral business and investments amidst these unusual times," wrote council head Victor Thomas.

The decision came a month after New Delhi suspended the services in Canada and for Canadian citizens worldwide as tensions flared between the two nations following Justin Trudeau's allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

The development came days after Canada pulled out 41 of its diplomats from India. India had designated Nijjar a terrorist in 2020. India formally called on Canada to better uphold its duty to protect foreign diplomats. India had also asked Canada to come down hard on extremists, terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians.