India Summons Canada Envoy Over Protests By Khalistan Supporters

Updated on: 26 March 2023 5:53 am

Pro-khalistan supporters during the protest at Indian High Commission in London

India has summoned the High Commissioner of Canada over the recent protests by Khalistan supporters?outside Indian Diplomatic Mission and Consulates in Canada.

"The Government of India sought an explanation on how such elements were allowed, in the presence of police, to breach the security of our diplomatic Mission and Consulates," a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said. The government of Canada was reminded of its obligations under the Vienna Convention, the ministry said and "asked to arrest and prosecute the individuals who have already been indetified as being involed in such acts."

India lodges strong protest with Canada.

Press Release ?? https://t.co/xzqHzbZT2X pic.twitter.com/NNzLI2izsf
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 26, 2023

Last week, around 2,000 pro-khalistan protesters descended upon the Indian High Commission for a planned demonstration and hurled objects and chanted slogans amid a heightened security presence and barricades. Taking a strong view of the attack, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India would not accept differential standards of security.?

He accused the UK of not meeting the obligation of providing security to the diplomats of the Mission, which is expected of a country where a high commission or consulate is located.?

Crackdown on Amritpal Singh?

Meanwhile,?Canada is "very closely" following the developments in Punjab and will continue to address the concerns of the community, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly has said amid Punjab Police's crackdown on radical preacher Amritpal Singh.?

The Punjab Police mounted a crackdown on Amritpal and his radical Waris Punjab De (WPD) on Saturday. While dozens of associates of Amritpal and WPD members were arrested, Amritpal himself slipped past the police net. Cellular internet was also suspended in Punjab on Saturday till Tuesday.?

Responding to questions about foreign leaders and parliamentarians commenting on the action against Amritpal Singh, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi urged people residing abroad not to believe "inaccurate and motivated narratives" that are being circulated by some elements on social media.

"Authorities in Punjab are undertaking operations to nab a fugitive. Information regarding that operation is being shared by authorities concerned on a regular basis," the spokesman said in New Delhi.

(With inputs from PTI)