NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to India on Monday to address the issue of Khalistani posters that recently surfaced in Canada. The posters depicted Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, Consul General Vancouver Manish, and Consul General Toronto Apoorva Srivastava as “killers” in Toronto. These posters were put up by extremists ahead of a planned propaganda rally and march at the Indian embassy in Melbourne on July 8th.
MEA sources confirmed that a strong demarche was issued during the meeting with the Canadian High Commissioner. The demarche expressed India’s strong concerns over the posters and their derogatory portrayal of Indian diplomats. It emphasized the need for Canada to take appropriate action against those responsible for such acts of incitement and to ensure the safety and security of Indian diplomats in Canada.
In response to the incident, Canada’s Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, tweeted that Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats seriously. She condemned the circulation of promotional material for the planned protest on July 8th and emphasized that the actions of a few individuals do not represent the entire community or Canada.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa strongly condemns the incident of Khalistani radicals setting fire to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.
He labels them as enemies of India and Sikhs, accusing them of having connections with the ISI, reports @joymalabagchi pic.twitter.com/XyzLvmtO32
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 4, 2023
This incident follows a similar occurrence in Australia, where posters featuring the names of Indian diplomats, High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra and Consul-General Dr. Sushil Kumar, were also displayed. The posters labeled them as “killers” of “Shaheed” Nijjar. The individuals behind these posters are believed to be Khalistani extremists, who aim to target Indian diplomatic missions and officials in Australia, the United States, and Canada on the same day.
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Meanwhile, a group of Khalistan radicals set fire to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco on July 2. The fire was immediately brought under control, and no major damages or injuries to staff were reported. Local law enforcement and the FBI are currently investigating the matter, but no arrests have been made yet.
Khalistan radicals set fire to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Fire controlled, investigation underway. No major damage or injuries. US Department of State condemns the violence, reports @urvashikhona pic.twitter.com/9T4nsX7JlN
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 4, 2023
Similar posters were also circulated in San Francisco suggesting a coordinated plan to target the Indian High Commissioner and consulates in Australia, the US, and Canada on the same day, indicating a well-organized effort by Khalistani radicals. This highlights the need for heightened vigilance and collaboration among these countries to counter such threats.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the chief of the Sikh For Justice (SFJ) organization, is suspected of being involved in orchestrating the creation and distribution of these posters. Pannu, who is believed to be residing in the United States, has been associated with various activities aimed at mobilizing Sikh communities against the Indian state. Notably, in recent weeks, three individuals linked to Khalistan have died in separate incidents. This includes the killing of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan and the deaths of Avatar Singh Khanda in Canada and Nijjar in the UK.
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India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, expressed concern over the use of Khalistani posters and requested partner countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to refrain from providing a platform to Khalistani elements. He emphasized that allowing such activities to take place would negatively impact bilateral relations, and he intends to raise the issue with the governments of these countries.
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