Canada’s ends to popular student program to impact India

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was a popular international student program which applied to students from India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Senegal and several others….reports Asian Lite News

Canada’s ends to popular student program to impact India
The Canadian government has ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme for international students which helped to streamline the process for study application, a move that is likely to impact lakhs of prospective students who were planning to come to the country.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was a popular international student program which applied to students from India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Senegal and several others. The program, however, was abruptly ended at 2 PM on November 8 (local time).

Additionally, the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) for Nigerian students has also been ended. The applications received before the deadline will be processed under SDS and NSE.

“The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students. The SDS was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam,” said a statement by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The government has said that it is “committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits.”
“Canada’s goal is to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience,” the statement by IRCC added.

Following this development, future applicants will be required to go through Canada’s regular study permit processes, which will require a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or a Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in the country.
The IRCC claims that this change will not “adversely affect” international students.

Notably, this move comes amid the rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.

Canada has alleged India’s role behind the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a charge New Delhi has strongly denied, terming it “absurd” and “motivated.”

Recently, Ottawa named Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in the case. India raised strong objection to the matter and recalled all six diplomats.
Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Canada, saying they were welcoming people from India with links to organised crime, ignoring warnings by New Delhi.

Criticising the Justin Trudeau-led dispensation for giving space and legitimacy to “extremism, separatism, and advocates of violence” in the name of free speech, Jaishankar on May 5 said that Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings.
In response, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller, expressed his disapproval, saying Jaishankar is “entitled to his opinion”
“We’re not lax. And the Indian foreign minister is entitled to his opinion. I’m going to let him speak his mind. It’s just not accurate,” on a broadcast on Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), a Canadian speciality television channel. (ANI)

Security tightened at Canadian embassy after protest

Members of the Hindu Sikh Global Forum took to the streets outside the Canadian High Commission in India in Chanakyapuri in the national capital, on Sunday, protesting against the attacks on Hindu temples in Canada.
Heavy security was deployed outside the High Commission and protestors were stopped at Teen Murti Marg by the police. Several activists were seen attempting to climb over the police barricades and toppling them.
The Hindu Sikh Global Forum, representing a coalition of Hindu and Sikh communities, organised the march to demonstrate their collective disapproval and demand action against such attacks.
Jitender Singh Shunty, President of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal, who was also part of the protest, voiced his concerns about a pattern of incidents targeting the Hindu and Sikh communities.
“An entire generation had been destroyed during militancy. They were either killed or they migrated to other countries. Then they introduced drugs to ruin the life of our young generation,” Marwah told reporters.
He elaborated that following these challenges, additional efforts were made to disrupt the community’s unity, including attempts at forced religious conversions.
“And now this new thing of attacking temples has started. This is wrong and unfortunate,” he said.
Marwah further emphasised the solidarity of India’s Sikh community, and strongly rejected any separatist ideologies.
“We are here to tell you that we are all together. A true Sikh can never be a Khalistani. If they want a separate nation, they should keep it limited to themselves. We want our tricolor and our country to be respected at all times. India’s Sikhs stand with India and do not support Khalistan,” he stated.
This comes amid the rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India.
Canada has alleged India’s role behind the killing of India-designated Khalistani terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a charge New Delhi has strongly denied, terming it “absurd” and “motivated.”
Recently, Ottawa named Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Verma and five other diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in the case. India raised strong objection to the matter and recalled all six diplomats.
Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticised Canada, saying they were welcoming people from India with links to organised crime, ignoring warnings by New Delhi.
Criticising the Justin Trudeau-led dispensation for giving space and legitimacy to “extremism, separatism, and advocates of violence” in the name of free speech, Jaishankar on May 5 said that Canada has been issuing visas to people with links to organised crime despite warnings. (ANI)

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