Canada dubs BSF 'violent force': MEA takes up issue

CANADA-BSF

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) In a shocking diplomatic gaffe,
the Canadian High Commission here has dubbed BSF as a
"notoriously violent force" engaged in "systematic torture",
prompting India to join issues with that country.
The High Commission, while denying visa to one Fateh
Singh Pandher, a retired constable of Border Security Force
(BSF), has written to him that his status was "inadmissible"
as he had served in a force that engaged in "systematic
attacks on civilians".
In his strongly-worded response to Pandher's visa
application, a First Secretary with the Mission here has said
BSF was a "notoriously violent force", which was responsible
for "systematic attacks on civilians" and "systematic torture
of the suspected criminals".
The High Commission official has suggested to Pandher
that he should have dissociated from the force to qualify for
the visa.
When contacted, External Affairs Ministry spokesman
Vishnu Prakash said, "the matter has come to the attention of
MEA and it has been appropriately taken up with the Canadian
side."
Pandher, who got the response in December last year,
approached BSF which wrote to the Home Ministry, which in turn
informed the MEA.
"The MHA received a representation from the BSF. We have
sent that representation along with our views to the MEA for
further action," a Home Ministry spokesman said. PTI ACB
RBT


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