India summons Canadian envoy ahead of ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’; Canada assures safety of Indian diplomats

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said in a statement, "Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously."

The poster, which accuses Indian officials, is an invitation to a rally titled "Khalistan Freedom Rally" scheduled on July 8. (Representational Photo)

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India has issued summons to the Canadian High Commissioner as a poster released by pro-Khalistan outfits labelling Indian diplomats as “killers” sparked outrage among the Punjabi diaspora in the country. Canada, on its part, called the “promotional material” circulating ahead of the ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’ “unacceptable”, and added that it takes its “obligations regarding safety of diplomats very seriously”.

In a statement on Tuesday, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said, “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.”

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

“We know that the actions of a few do not speak for an entire community, or Canada,” she added.

A poster titled “Kill India,” released by Pro-Khalistani leaders in Canada, accusing Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General of India in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava, of assassinating Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, has sparked widespread outrage among the Punjabi diaspora in Canada.

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The poster, which accuses Indian officials, is an invitation to a rally titled “Khalistan Freedom Rally” scheduled on July 8. According to the poster, the rally will start from Great Punjab Business Centre Malton and culminate at the Indian Embassy in Toronto (although Toronto houses the Consulate General of India, not the Indian Embassy). The poster also features photos of both Indian officials in Canada and labels them as killers of Nijjar in Toronto.

On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “We have already requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor for them nor our relations.”

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