New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India expected action to be taken against culprits involved in threatening its diplomats in Canada. His comments came against the backdrop of a diplomatic row between India and Canada after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year alleged a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly rebuffed Trudeau’s claims, calling it “absurd” and “motivated”.
Speaking at a summit organized by TV9 Network, Jaishankar said India had to suspend the issuance of visas in Canada as Indian diplomats were repeatedly “threatened and intimidated in many ways” and we “got very little comfort from the Canadian system at that time”. In September last year, India temporarily suspended issuing visas to Canadian citizens following Trudeau’s allegations. However, the visa services were restored after several weeks.
At the summit, Jaishankar said New Delhi also wanted the UK and the US to take stern action against those involved in last year’s attacks on its high commission in London and its consulate in San Francisco. “We expect the culprits in the attack on our consulate in San Francisco to be brought to book, we expect action against people who stormed into our high commission in London, and we expect action against people who threatened our diplomats (in Canada),” he said.
On March 19 last year, the Indian High Commission in London was attacked by pro-Khalistani elements, while the Indian Consulate in San Francisco was vandalized and set on fire in July. In September, the Indian diplomats faced threats in Canada. “We had to suspend the issuance of visas in Canada because our diplomats were not safe going to work. Our diplomats were repeatedly threatened. They were intimidated in many ways and we got very little comfort from the Canadian system at that time,” Jaishankar said.
The minister said the situation has improved since then. “We reached a stage when, as a minister, I could not risk exposing the diplomats to the kind of violence that was very clearly prevalent in Canada at that time. That part of it has been rectified. Today, our visa operations are pretty much normal,” he added.
“They (Canada) keep telling us that we are a democracy. There is freedom of speech and, therefore, people say these things,” Jaishankar said. “Freedom of speech cannot extend to intimidating diplomats who are doing their duty. Throwing smoke bombs to embassies and consulates, advocating violence and separatism against a friendly state is not freedom of speech, this is a misuse of freedom of speech,” he further said.
The minister said the Indian High Commission in London “did not get much protection” New Delhi had expected to get when it was attacked by pro-Khalistani elements. “If a receiving state does not investigate and take action against someone who attacks our embassy and consulates, there is a message in it. I do not think it is good for any of these countries to send that kind of message for their own reputation,” Jaishankar further said.
