Shillong, July 4: India summoned Canadian High Commissioner Cameron MacKay to express concerns regarding upcoming protests organized by pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits outside the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and two consulates in Toronto and Vancouver on July 8. The protests were prompted by Khalistani threat posters in Canada that featured the names of Indian diplomats.
A strong demarche was issued regarding the posters, as well as a previous incident on March 23 when Sikh extremists threw two smoke canisters into the High Commission premises. Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma has also raised the issue with Canadian authorities.
The Canadian High Commissioner was called to the South Block, and a note verbale was sent to Global Affairs Canada today, emphasizing India’s concerns.
Recently, Indian diplomats including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, Consul General Vancouver Manish, and Consul General Toronto Apoorva Srivastava were named in pamphlets circulated by extremists, accusing India of being responsible for the killing of Khalistani Hardeep Nijjar.
Hardeep Nijjar, the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force and one of India’s most wanted terrorists, was shot on June 18 by unidentified individuals in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada.
Meanwhile, Canada has assured the safety of Indian diplomats ahead of the scheduled ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’ on July 8. Canada denounced the circulating “unacceptable” promotional material related to the Khalistan rally and affirmed its commitment to the safety of diplomats.
