In response to the circulation of Khalistan propaganda material, including threatening posters targeting Indian diplomats in Canada, the Indian government has called upon the Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi and issued a formal demarche to the administration of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Sources claim that on Monday, India expressed concerns over threats made against its diplomats in Canadian posters advertising a pro-Khalistan protest scheduled for July 8. The Indian ambassador to Canada and the general consulate in Toronto were threatened in the posters.
In posters purportedly put up by Sikh extremists, Sanjay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, and Apoorva Srivastava, the Consul General of India in Toronto, are named. They are accused of having a hand in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force and a designated terrorist, in Canada in June.
The protest is being organised in memory of Khalistani terrorist Harjit Singh Nijjar, also known as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was slain on June 18 in Surrey, Canada, during a targeted shooting.
Canadian Foreign Minister deems Khalistani threats to Diplomats ‘unacceptable’
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly of Canada stated earlier today that her nation is in frequent communication with Indian officials as a result of certain “unacceptable” protest posters that have surfaced in Canada and feature the names and images of some of the country’s senior diplomats and are scheduled to take place on July 8.
Melanie Joly said in a statement that she tweeted, “Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously. Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8th, which are unacceptable. We know that the actions of a few do not speak for an entire community or Canada.”
Have asked the partner countries not to provide space to Khalistan: S Jaishankar
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Delhi External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday said that India had asked allies like Canada, the UK, and Australia not to provide a platform for Khalistanis because their relationship would be harmed by their radical, extremist ideologies.
Jaishankar said when questioned about reports of posters in Canada mentioning Indian diplomats said, “We have requested our partner countries, like Canada, UK, Australia, US that they should not give space to these Khalistanis. These radical extremist ideologies aren’t good for us, them, or our ties. Will raise the issue of these posters.”
The assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi was commemorated in a tableau procession earlier this month in Ontario, which brought a harsh rebuke from New Delhi.
In March this year, Khalistan supporters protested outside the Indian Embassy in Canada. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present on the spot.
Khalistan supporters in March, protested outside the Indian Embassy in Canada. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present on the spot.
