- Thursday, April 24, 2025
The Canada government called the poster targeting Indian diplomats “unacceptable” and vowed to take action to protect India’s diplomatic representatives.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE Narendra Modi government on Monday (3) summoned the high commissioner of Canada to India, Cameron McKay, over a rally planned by pro-Khalistan activists in Toronto on July 8.
A “Khalistan freedom rally” has been called by the separatists. A poster for the rally was recently unveiled that also issued threats to India’s high commissioner in Ottawa and consul general in Toronto over the murder of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada’s Surrey last month.
Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of Indian diplomats on its soil following the circulation of the controversial poster, NDTV reported. The government of Canada called the poster “unacceptable” and vowed to take action to protect India’s diplomatic representatives.
“Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously,” Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said.
“Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8, which are unacceptable.”
My comment regarding some of the promotional material circulating for a planned protest on July 8. pic.twitter.com/yYoWDCvAdi
— Mélanie Joly (@melaniejoly) July 4, 2023
The Indian authorities summoned the Canadian envoy a day after external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the “radical, extremist” Khalistani ideology is not good either for India or its “partner countries” such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia — all of which have witnessed anti-India acts being carried out on their soil by pro-Khalistan activists.
“We have requested our partner countries like Canada, US, UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to the Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor them nor our relations,” the minister was quoted as saying by PTI.
In another incident, the Indian consulate in San Francisco in the US was allegedly set on fire by Khalistani separatists on Sunday (2), drawing sharp condemnation from Washington. It is the second time that the Indian consulate in the American city has been targeted since March.
