Event, News by admin Oct 07, 2023
Telangana students in Canada downplay safety concerns amid tensions
Despite the ongoing political tension between Canada and India, students from Telangana studying in Canada say their is no cause for concern or fear on the ground. They assert that the issue is between the governments of the two countries and that there is no violence or fear in areas characterized by heightened tension. The prevailing fear has been largely amplified through social media platforms, leading to unease
among the families of these students. As a result, some students who were considering studying in Canada are now exploring other options as the US and Australia.
In midst of the ongoing political tension between Canada and India, there is growing concern for the well-being of students from Telangana who are pursuing their education in Canada. However, when TOI spoke to some of these students, as strikingly different view emerged. The students say that the issue is only between the governments of the two countries and there is no sign of violence or fear on the ground.
According to these students, there is no tangible cause for concern or fear, even in areas characterised by heightened tension, such as Surrey and Ottawa.
G Aakash, a student pursuing a master's in business administration in Surrey, where the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar took place, said,Everything is normal here. I am going about my days as usual. On roads and other places as well, there are no cops or protesters. Many of my friends in college are not even aware of the intensity of the situation. Only those who are following the news are aware; otherwise, on the ground, there is nothing to worry about."
This unease follows an advisory issued by the Government of India on September 25, uging all Indian nationals in Canada to exercise caution and avoid certain regions and venues due to the potential for violence.
The students firmly assert that the prevailing fear has been largely amplified through social media platforms. Zohaib Ali, a finance professional residing in Ottawa, added, "After the advisory was issue, we were quite scared, and a feeling of fear was normal. The social media platforms made it worse with repetitive postes and videos, but that was just that. i am going to my work as usual; I don't see anything to be scared about here."
Similarly students from Telangan in Toronto, Vancouver, and other parts of Canada also did not observe any significant change on the ground, although they remain cautious due to continuous discussions between governments of the two nations about the issue.
Despite the normalcy in Canada, the fear has been instilled in the families of these students. Sushma Vemuganti, a homemaker from New Bowenpally, whose son is working in Toronto, expressed concern about his safety, "Despite his constant reassurances that he is going about his days as before, there is always a sense of concern for his safety," she added.
Due to the ongoing political turmoil, students who were considering studying in Canada are exploring other destinations, according to city-based consultancies. Mr. Sanjeev Rai from Hyderabad Overseas Consultancy said, "The number of students looking to go abroad has definitely decreased by at least 30%. They are considering other options including the US and Australia. Although there isn't any major change in the visa process of Canada, students who have applied recently might have to wait a bit longer for slots if the situation remains the same."
Source: timesofindia.
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