Amar Jawan Jyoti will be fused with the flame at the National War Memorial
The Indian request was sent to Canada's foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, via a note verbale, an official diplomatic communication, issued by India's High Commission in Ottawa.
A year after protestors blocked India’s embassy in Vancouver and pro-Khalistan speeches were delivered there, New Delhi has formally requested that Canada provide “an ample deployment” of security at its embassies in the nation to ensure that such disruptions do not occur again.
A year after India’s consulate in Vancouver was blockaded by protesters and pro-Khalistan speeches delivered at the site, New Delhi has formally asked Canada for “ample deployment” of security at its missions in the country.
(reports @anirudhb)https://t.co/5X0NwYAD7C
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) January 21, 2022
The Indian request was sent to Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, via a note verbale, an official diplomatic communication, issued by India’s High Commission in Ottawa.
According to the Hindustan Times, senior Indian officials have shared “precise and detailed information” about threats to Indian embassies in Canada.
India asks for enhanced security at its missions in Canada https://t.co/3HYhS8JRjO
— Hindustan Times (@HindustanTimes) January 21, 2022
The official added that “we’ve already told our Canadian colleagues about the most explicit threats we’ve received and urged them to make sure nothing bad occurs.”
There is concern this year because Punjab elections are approaching and the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has made public statements about disrupting Republic Day functions in Vancouver, while other hardline groups have planned a car rally to the consulate in Toronto and a demonstration in front of the High Commission in Ottawa.
According to the official, promises have been obtained that Canadian police enforcement officers in charge of diplomatic security will “intensify patrolling and deploy static and plainclothes troops.”
According to SFJ’s general counsel, Gurpatwant Pannun, activists supporting the Khalistan Referendum have been assigned to “Raise Khalistan-Block Tiranga” on January 26 at India’s missions, notably Hardeep Singh Najjar’s in Vancouver.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against Najjar before a special court in New Delhi in November last year, alleging that he planned terror attacks in India in violation of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Despite publicly supporting independence and being behind the non-binding referendum, Najjar and the SFJ have denied any role in terrorism.
The event in Toronto is being held to demand that the Indian government “free all Sikh political prisoners who have served their sentences.”
According to Sukhminder Singh Hansra, a senior member of Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar Canada and a prominent pro-Khalistan figure in Canada, this was decided at a meeting last week and is being supported by his group as well as the Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, the Sikh Motorcycle Club of Canada, and others.
A group of gurdwaras in Vancouver has also scheduled a demonstration in front of the embassy. The demonstration will follow the same schedule as the rally in Toronto.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs publicly expressed its unhappiness over the blockade of the Canadian embassy in Vancouver last year.