An MP from Canada, Chandra Arya, expressed his strong disapproval of aggressive pro-Khalistani posters that labeled certain Indian diplomats as “killers.” Arya warned that the supporters of Khalistan in Canada pose a growing threat and compared them to snakes in our backyard. He suggested that it was only a matter of time before they became dangerous and harmful.
Arya, who represents the Nepean region in Ontario, shared a flyer for the “Khalistan Freedom Rally” on July 8. He criticized the organizers for promoting violence and hate, which goes against Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom.
The controversial Khalistani billboard referred to India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and Consul General to Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava, as the killers of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force. This has caused outrage in India.
This incident follows another controversy where Khalistanis displayed a tableau featuring the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with blood on her clothes. The placard read “Revenge of attack on Shri Darbar Sahib,” marking the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star.
In response to these incidents, India summoned Canada’s ambassador to New Delhi and expressed its concerns about the growing activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. India has also urged its ally nations like Canada, the UK, and the US not to provide space for extremist Khalistani ideology.
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, deemed the promotional material for the Khalistan protest as unacceptable. She emphasized Canada’s commitment to the safety of diplomats under the Vienna Conventions.
Despite these controversies, it is important to note that the actions of a small group of people do not represent the entire Canadian community or Canada as a whole. The Indian government plans to address the issue with Canadian authorities.
In a separate meeting, India discussed the problem with the Canadian High Commissioner, Cameron MacKay. The leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was fatally shot in front of a gurdwara in Canada last month, adding to the tensions surrounding the Khalistani movement.
