NEW DELHI: The Consulate General of India in Toronto announced the cancellation of several scheduled consular camps across Canada on Thursday after local security agencies indicated that they were unable to guarantee the required safety measures for these community events.
"In view of the security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection to the community camp organizers, Consulate has decided to cancel some of the scheduled consular camps," Consulate General of India in Toronto said in a post on X.
This comes days after an incident of violent disruption at a consular camp held at the Hindu Sabha Temple near Toronto.
Commenting on the incident, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "You would have seen the message posted by our consulate in Toronto that they have had to cancel the consular camp that they were planning to organise over the weekend because they did not get adequate security or security assurance from the government."
"We have a large diaspora in Canada. Many of these people, especially around the month of November, December, they need several documentation for continuation of their pensions and several other activities here in India. So this consulate camp that we do is helpful to the community, to both people of Indian nationality and people who are of Indian origin but Canadian nationals today. I do understand that in other parts of Canada, Vancouver for example, the consular camps will be conducted. These consular camps are conducted at the request of the community organizations. So where the community organization is comfortable, we will go ahead with these consular camps," the MEA spokesperson added.
Indian high commission in Canada, denounced the attack as a targeted act by "anti-India" elements and had said that future consular activities would proceed only if local authorities could ensure adequate security for participants and organizers.
Sharing the footage of the incident, Hindu Canadian Foundation had alleged that pro-Khalistani groups had targeted women and children outside the temple. The video sparked widespread outrage and fueled calls for better protections for the Indian diaspora.
In response to the attack, over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton to protest the attack and demand action from Canadian leaders. During the demonstration, organizers urged Canadian political leaders and law enforcement to discontinue any support for pro-Khalistani groups.
The incident drew condemnation from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Addressing the incident on X, PM Modi said, "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law."
Prime Minister Trudeau also expressed disapproval, saying, "The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely."
This surge in tensions between pro-India and pro-Khalistan groups in Canada follows declining India-Canada relations amidst investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani leader in British Columbia. Canada had said that it was 'actively pursuing credible allegations' linking Indian government agents to Nijjar's assassination, an allegation that India had termed as 'absurd' and 'baseless'.
India had recently expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, hours before Canada’s foreign ministry announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats.These actions followed a series of tit-for-tat expulsions and suspended visa services.
"In view of the security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection to the community camp organizers, Consulate has decided to cancel some of the scheduled consular camps," Consulate General of India in Toronto said in a post on X.
In view of the security agencies conveying their inability to provide minimum security protection to the community camp organizers, Consulate has decided to cancel some of the scheduled consular camps.@HCI_Ottawa @MEAIndia
— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) November 7, 2024
This comes days after an incident of violent disruption at a consular camp held at the Hindu Sabha Temple near Toronto.
Commenting on the incident, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "You would have seen the message posted by our consulate in Toronto that they have had to cancel the consular camp that they were planning to organise over the weekend because they did not get adequate security or security assurance from the government."
"We have a large diaspora in Canada. Many of these people, especially around the month of November, December, they need several documentation for continuation of their pensions and several other activities here in India. So this consulate camp that we do is helpful to the community, to both people of Indian nationality and people who are of Indian origin but Canadian nationals today. I do understand that in other parts of Canada, Vancouver for example, the consular camps will be conducted. These consular camps are conducted at the request of the community organizations. So where the community organization is comfortable, we will go ahead with these consular camps," the MEA spokesperson added.
Indian high commission in Canada, denounced the attack as a targeted act by "anti-India" elements and had said that future consular activities would proceed only if local authorities could ensure adequate security for participants and organizers.
Sharing the footage of the incident, Hindu Canadian Foundation had alleged that pro-Khalistani groups had targeted women and children outside the temple. The video sparked widespread outrage and fueled calls for better protections for the Indian diaspora.
In response to the attack, over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton to protest the attack and demand action from Canadian leaders. During the demonstration, organizers urged Canadian political leaders and law enforcement to discontinue any support for pro-Khalistani groups.
The incident drew condemnation from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Addressing the incident on X, PM Modi said, "I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada. Equally appalling are the cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats. Such acts of violence will never weaken India's resolve. We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law."
Prime Minister Trudeau also expressed disapproval, saying, "The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely."
This surge in tensions between pro-India and pro-Khalistan groups in Canada follows declining India-Canada relations amidst investigation into the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani leader in British Columbia. Canada had said that it was 'actively pursuing credible allegations' linking Indian government agents to Nijjar's assassination, an allegation that India had termed as 'absurd' and 'baseless'.
India had recently expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, hours before Canada’s foreign ministry announced the expulsion of six Indian diplomats.These actions followed a series of tit-for-tat expulsions and suspended visa services.
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