Published 15:55 IST, September 19th 2023
After Trudeau's claims, extremist groups in Canada pledge to shutdown Indian consulates
After Canadian PM Justin Trudeau hurled accusations against India, extremist groups in Canada threatened to shut down Indian consulates in the country.
- World News
- 3 min read
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hurled accusations against India, extremist groups in Canada threatened to shut down Indian consulates in the North American nation. On Tuesday, Trudeau alleged that New Delhi was involved in the assassination of the pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, unleashing severe criticisms from India. While the Ministry of External Affairs vehemently rejected the proclamations made by Trudeau, both nations expelled their respective diplomats amid rising tensions.
The Canadian extremist group named Sikhs For Justice on Tuesday announced that they will stage demonstrations and 'shut down' the Indian consulates in Canada by next week. The announcement came moments after Trudeau made provocative claims against the Indian administration. According to Canadian news outlet Global News, the protests are slated to take place outside Indian consulates in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal counsel for Sikhs for Justice, told the news outlet that their so-called 'campaign' will start from Monday.
“We will not allow the Indian consulates to function and we’re going to push the Canadian Government to name the individuals who are responsible for assassinating and giving the orders to hit Nijjar,” Pannun told Global News. “He has been assassinated outside the Gurudwara — that was being done to give a very strong message to pro-Khalistan Sikhs that they will be hunted, even in the Western world,” he furthered. The group is notorious for conducting illegal referendums across Canada, demanding the formation of Khalistan.
The group wants more expulsions
After Canada expelled top Indian diplomat, Pavan Kumar Rai, the extremist group started calling for the expulsion of Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma, Global News reported. “People are livid right now. This is a news story that has shaken the whole country. It’s also a news story that has shaken the community to a certain extent,” Jaskaran Sandhu, a board member of the World Sikh Organization told the Canadian news outlet. “It’s something that’s going to reverberate from our security apparatuses to our intelligence community, to our governance, to how we understand the diaspora in Canada. This is a story for the ages,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs expelled a senior Canadian Diplomat in retaliation for Canada’s removal of Pavan Kumar Rai. “The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Indian Government to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India. The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. “The decision reflects the Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities,” MEA added.
Updated 17:59 IST, September 19th 2023