The external affairs ministry on Friday described Canadian media reports claiming that India is using visa denials to silence pro-Khalistan Canadians as an act of foreign interference in India’s sovereign matters.

Delhi alleged that the report in the Global News, headlined “Visas have become an Indian foreign interference tool”, had spread misinformation.

The report alleged that Canadians who have spoken in favour of Khalistan were being denied Indian visas unless they signed a “form renouncing Khalistan and professing deep respect for India”.

Asked for a response to the media report, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We see it as yet another example of Canadian media’s disinformation to malign India. Granting an Indian visa or for that matter any other visa, is a sovereign function. As far as Indian visas are concerned, it is our sovereign right to deny visas to those who undermine our territorial integrity and the commentary that we see in the Canadian media on this matter is akin to foreign interference in India’s sovereign affairs.”

Even as tensions prevail with Canada following the diplomatic row over Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, India this week iterated its advisory to Indians in Canada after three Indian students were killed across the North American country in recent days. Two of them were murdered and the third was killed in a tree crash.

On the three deaths, Jaiswal said: “We are saddened at these terrible tragedies that have struck our nationals in Canada. We extend our deepest condolences to the grieving families. Our high commission and consulates in Toronto and Vancouver are extending all possible help in the matter. They are in touch with the local authorities for thorough investigation in these incidents.”

Stating that the safety, security and welfare of Indian nationals in Canada is of utmost importance to India, Jaiswal added that issues faced by them, especially Indian students, are raised by the high commission and consulates with the relevant Canadian authorities regularly.

“We have also issued an advisory for our nationals and Indian students to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant in view of the deteriorating security environment in Canada as a result of the growing incidents of hate crimes and criminal violence,” he said.