The High Commissioner of Canada was summoned to convey India’s strong concern about the actions of extremist elements against diplomatic missions in Canada…reports Asian Lite News
The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday summoned the High Commissioner of Canada after the security breach at the Indian embassy in Ottawa.
“The High Commissioner of Canada was summoned yesterday to convey our strong concern about the actions of separatist and extremist elements against our diplomatic Mission and Consulates in Canada this week,” the MEA said in a statement released on Sunday. The statement by the MEA said the Government of India sought an explanation on how such elements were allowed, in the presence of police, to breach the security of India’s diplomatic missions and Consulates.
“The Government of Canada was reminded of its obligations under the Vienna Convention and was asked to arrest and prosecute the individuals who have already been identified as being involved in such acts,” the statement read further.
The Canadian government is expected to take strong steps against such anti-India separatist elements, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“It is expected that the Canadian government will take all steps which are required to ensure the safety of our diplomats and security of our diplomatic premises so that they are able to fulfil their normal diplomatic functions,” the release said.
Khalistan supporters allegedly protested outside the Indian Embassy in Canada last week. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present at the spot.
The Khalistan supporters have started targeting Indian consulates after the chase on separatist leader Amritpal Singh started in India and hundreds of his aides were arrested in India.
After Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, the High Commission of India in Canada was also targeted by Khalistani supporters this week.
The honorary consulate of India was vandalised with Khalistani flags earlier in February. Recently, Indian consulates in the United Kingdom and the United States were also attacked by pro-Khalistan supporters.
Khalistani threat
The Khalistani menace against India continues unabated with anti-India elements defacing and spray-painting a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Canada with spiteful graffiti in a recent display of cowardice.
The incident was reported in the early hours of Thursday near the City Hall in the town of Hamilton in Ontario where the statue, gifted by the Indian government, is located, the Daily Hunt reported.
According to a video of the vandalism, a Khalistani flag was also found attached to the six-feet tall bronze statue, which was doused with paint and graffiti abusing Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While Hamilton Police said they are investigating the case, attacks by Khalistani backers on Indian installations and temples are on the rise in the North American nation.
Starting 2023, a string of attacks has been unleashed upon Hindu temples across Canada with close to half-a-dozen incidents of vandalism, spiteful graffiti, break-ins and burglaries.
In January this year, the Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton was targetted with walls of the temples defaced with ‘Khalistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad’ slogans.
This was followed by an attack on Ram Temple in Mississauga in February, which was vandalised with anti-India slogans, sending shockwaves across the Indian community.
In July last year, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located at the Vishnu Mandir in Richmond Hill in the Greater Toronto Area was vandalised and defaced with graphic words.
Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya recently called upon the Ottawa government to take the matter ‘seriously’.
“The attack on Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton is the latest in attacks on Hindu temples in Canada by anti-Hindu and anti-India groups. From hatred on social media, now physical attacks on Hindu temples, what next?” Arya had said.
“I call on the government at levels in Canada to start taking this seriously.” (ANI/IANS)
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