Canada Calls ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally’ Unacceptable, Indian Diplomats’ Safety Top Priority

The Canadian government on Tuesday responded to a proposed protest rally by a pro-Khalistan group in Toronto this week, calling it "unacceptable" and that the country takes the safety of diplomats very seriously.

Foreign Minister Melanie said that 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.

Taking to Twitter, Joly said, "Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously. Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8th, which are unacceptable."

"We know that the actions of a few do not speak for an entire community, or Canada," she added.

A poster displaying pictures and names of Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General of India in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava as killers of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar has sparked widespread outrage among the Punjabi diaspora settled in Canada.

The poster titled 'Kill India', is an invitation to a rally titled "Khalistan Freedom Rally" scheduled on July 8.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that the issue of Indian diplomats' names appearing on posters of Khalistani elements in Canada, would be taken up with Canadian and other nations' governments as it may affect relations.

"We have requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to the Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor 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," he added.

Earlier, a photo of 1985 Air India airplane bombing accused Talwinder Parmar was seen in a pro-Khalistan rally in Canada, seeking to glorify him.