India has summoned Canadian High Commissioner Cameron MacKayove over posters being circulated by the Khalistani radicals threatening Indian diplomats in Ottawa and Toronto.
A demarche was served to the Justin Trudeau Government on Monday in connection with the "freedom rally" planned on July 8. The posters of the rally had carried threats to Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, Consul General Vancouver Manish and Consul General Toronto Apoorva Srivastava over the recent killing of designated terrorist Khalistani Hardeep Nijjar.
Meanwhile, Canada has assured India of the safety of its diplomats with regard to the poster issue. Stressing Canada's commitment to the safety of diplomats, Minister Joly highlighted the country's adherence to the Vienna Conventions. "Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously," she said in the statement on her Twitter account on Tuesday.
"Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8, which are unacceptable," Joly said. She added that the actions of a few individuals "do not speak for an entire community or Canada."
Her statement comes as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has asked its partner countries such as Canada, the UK and the US not to give space to "extremist Khalistani ideology" as it is "not good" for relations.
"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," the minister said.
"We will raise the issue of posters with those governments. I think it would have already been done by now as it happened two to three days earlier," Jaishankar said.
Last month, India slammed Canada after visuals surfaced on social media of a tableau in Brampton that reportedly celebrated the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Canada's response to the Khalistani issue appeared to be constrained by its "vote bank compulsions" and India will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security and integrity, Jaishankar had said on the issue.
(With inputs from PTI)
