Amid Reports Of Disturbances At Indian Events, India Urges Canada To Respect Vienna Convention

India on Thursday once again urged Ottawa to respect the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations amid reports of Khalistani elements disturbing a consular camp organised in Indian High Commission in Canada.

Speaking at a press conference, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said that there have been some inaccurate social media reports regarding the incidents.

"Our High Commission and consulates in Canada regularly organize consular camps. One such camp was organized near Vancouver on November 12 to provide life certificates to pensioners. The event was held successfully despite attempts by a few radical elements to cause trouble. Our Consul General was not present at that site".

"We reiterate the need for nations to respect the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations so that our diplomats can discharge their diplomatic obligations," he added.

Addressing reports of a purported attack on the Indian community during Diwali celebrations in Canada, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the consulate has not received any complaints regarding the incident.

"As regards to events that you alluded to near Brampton or Mississauga in Diwali. I think that was more in the nature of unrest between the two groups. To be honest, I don't think there has been any complaint that our consulate has received. I saw some social media reports. We also understand that the authorities there are looking into that incident, so I don't have anything further to add to that," he further said.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that India is not ruling out an investigation into Canada's allegations about the involvement of the Indian government's agents in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in that country but wants it to provide evidence to back its claims.

Jaishankar made the comments on Wednesday in response to questions during a conversation with veteran journalist Lionel Barber titled 'How a Billion People See the World'.

"If you have a reason to make such an allegation, please share the evidence with us. We are not ruling out an investigation and looking at anything which they may have to offer. They haven't done so," Jaishankar, who was here on a five-day official visit to the UK, said while responding to a question.

The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". Jaishankar also said Canadian politics has given space to violent and extreme political opinions which advocate separatism from India, including through violent means.

"These people have been accommodated in Canadian politics. They are given the freedom to articulate their views," he said.