Canada Terms Proposed Rally ‘Unacceptable’; Khalistanis Try to Torch Indian Consulate in US

OTTAWA/ SAN FRANCISCO: The Canadian government has termed the proposed pro-Khalistan rally to Indian missions in the country as 'unacceptable'.

The rally planned for July 8th by pro-Khalistan elements has caused concerns over the safety of senior Indian envoys.

The threat to the security of Indian missions and envoys increased sharply after pro-Khalistan elements put out a poster with the words ‘Kill India’ and included photographs of India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma, Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava and Consul General in Vancouver Manish.

Melanie Joly, Canada's minister of foreign affairs, said on Twitter on Monday evening that Canada is very serious about its obligations regarding the safety of diplomats under Vienna Conventions. “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," she tweeted.

Canada’s minister of national defence Anita Anand also tweeted a similar statement saying that the materials for a protest on July 8 posted online were unacceptable, and that these elements do not represent Canadians. “Canada will continue to ensure the safety of foreign diplomats in this country – and we take this responsibility seriously," she posted.

The level of threat escalated in the US too as India’s consulate in San Francisco became the target of an attempted arson. Moreover, a circulated poster, similar to those in Canada, featured the India's Ambassador to Washington Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Consul General in San Francisco Nagendra Prasad.

A senior Indian official said the arson in the US proved that the danger of violence by Khalistani extremists is real.

Violent Khalistani activists launched an attack on India’s consulate in San Francisco in the early hours of July 2 Pacific Time and sought to burn it down, in what was claimed by them as an attempt to avenge the killing of designated terrorist and Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June.

The highest level of American national security and diplomatic mechanism in Washington DC was concerned by the latest attack, and its agencies were immediately ordered to investigate the incident, step up security, and assist Indian officials. The US’ State Department also termed it a criminal offense.

While no damage was caused inside the diplomatic premises in the attempted arson attack, it is the second instance in less than three months when the Khalistanis made the San Francisco consulate a target.

In the month of March, pro-Khalistani activists had put up flags at the consulate, broke through the barricades, used flagpoles to smash windows and doors in the consulate.

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