India commends Canada's compassionate stance on deportation of students: Sources

New Delhi, June 11: The Indian government has expressed appreciation for the compassionate approach taken by the Canadian government regarding the deportation of Indian students who were victims of fraudulent "admission offer" letters provided by untrustworthy education consultants, according to sources. Majority of these students went to Canada between 2017 and 2019, with some obtaining work permits during their stay.

India has been actively engaging with Canadian authorities in both Canada and New Delhi to address this issue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has personally raised the matter with his Canadian counterpart, emphasizing the need for fairness and a humanitarian perspective.

"It has been highlighted that the Canadian system has loopholes and lacks due diligence, which resulted in the students being granted visas and allowed entry into Canada," sources added.

Also Read: Boris Johnson resigns as MP, triggering crisis for Rishi Sunak

The Indian consulate officials in Toronto have been in contact with the affected students, offering support and assistance.

Despite facing the imminent deportation of less than 700 students, predominantly from Punjab, recent developments have instilled hope. Lovepreet Singh, an Indian student scheduled for deportation on Tuesday, has received temporary reprieve as the Canadian government has put the action on hold.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also provided a glimmer of hope to the students by stating that his government is focused on identifying the responsible individuals rather than penalizing the victims.

"We are fully aware of the cases involving international students who have received removal orders based on fraudulent college acceptance letters," Trudeau affirmed in Canada.

"Fraud victims will be given an opportunity to present their situations and provide evidence to support their cases," he further stated.

A Canadian parliamentary committee has unanimously voted to urge the border services agency to halt the deportation of Indian students who fell prey to deceitful education consultants in India.

The sources expressed gratitude for the persistent efforts made by the Indian government, which played a crucial role in encouraging the Canadian government to adopt a compassionate approach and consider the perspectives of the affected students.

Also Read: Donald Trump amplifies outrage as indictment shakes Presidential race