India raises concern over threats to its officials in Canada as Khalistan freedom rally to be held on 8 July
The head of a Sikh temple in Canada, Harjit Singh Nijjar, was found dead with bullet wounds. Concerns have been expressed by India about an upcoming Khalistan rally in Canada, which includes threats to Indian officials.
India has expressed concerns to the Canadian authorities about the upcoming Khalistan rally in Canada which will be held on 8 July, a report by Hindustan Times has stated. Posters of the ‘freedom rally’ is being circulated on social media.
Indian authorities also has escalated of possible threat to the officials in Canada. The poster carries threats to Sanjay Kumar Verma India’s high commissioner to Ottawa and Apoorva Srivastava who is consulate general in Toronto. As per the poster, a ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally will be held on 8 July at 12.30 pm. The rally is set to start from Great Punjab Business Centre and will end at Indian Embassy at Toronto, the poster claims.
The rally is being held in the name of Harjit Singh Nijjar aka Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada's Surrey on 18 June. Nijjar was the chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and was also included in the list released by the Indian government, naming 40 other designated terrorists.
Verma, India’s high commissioner to Ottawa told HT that, “In the garb of freedom of expression, they are attempting to cause harm to foreign envoys, which may not be the intention of Canadian law and constitution, under which such rights are provided.”
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar has also responded to the matter of names of Indian diplomats on Khalistani posters in Canada. While speaking to reporters, he said, “We have requested our partner countries like Canada, the United States, the UK and Australia not to give space to the Khalistanis. This will affect our relations. We will raise this poster issue with the government of these countries”
Earlier on 18 June, reports stated that Nijjar was found dead inside a car with bullet wounds in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib of which he was the head, at Surrey at 8:27 pm (local time) on Sunday. Quoting preliminary information, the officials had told PTI that Nijjar was shot by two unidentified assailants and had died on the spot.
Last year in July 2022, NIA had also declared a reward of ₹10 lakh on Nijjar who was linked to a conspiracy to kill a Hindu priest in Punjab’s Jalandhar in 2021. “NIA has declared a cash reward of ₹10 lakh against Nijjar... Any information pertaining to the absconding accused leading to his arrest or apprehension, may be shared... the identity of the informer shall be kept secret," the NIA had said.
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Business NewsNewsIndiaIndia raises concern over threats to its officials in Canada as Khalistan freedom rally to be held on 8 July
First Published:3 Jul 2023, 01:31 PM IST
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