India’s envoy to Canada forced to cancel event appearance due to protests linked to Amritpal Singh
As passions run high within sections of Indo-Canadian community in Canada amidst rumours of the arrest of fugitive Amritpal Singh in Punjab, India’s High Commissioner in Canada had to cancel an event in British Columbia due to concerns over his safety as protestors blocked the entrance to the venue.
India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma was scheduled to attend a reception organized by the Friends of India & Canada Foundation in Surrey, British Columbia. However, he was forced to cancel his attendance as nearly 200 protestors, some wielding swords, gathered in front of the venue, the Taj Park Convention Centre.
An attendee told the Hindustan Times that local police, the Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP was unable to control the mob which started gathering a couple of hours before the event was scheduled to begin on Sunday evening and police advised the High Commissioner against attending the function.
Maninder Gill, president of the Foundation, said, “This is a shame if even the High Commissioner cannot be protected in this country.”
There were online threats to disrupt meetings and events being attended by Indian diplomats in the country including that of the High Commissioner. The call to the protestors asked them to “Mask up” and to leave their IDs and cellphones at home.
India’s High Commission in Ottawa had already sought upgraded security for its missions in the country for the foreseeable future.
The High Commission faced a protest by members of the Shiromani Akali Dal – Amritsar in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon, though that passed without incident unlike events in London, which saw the High Commission in the British capital vandalized.
A senior Indian official said they have sought heightened security from the nodal law enforcement agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or RCMP, on a continuing basis as more protests are expected, particularly if Amritpal Singh is arrested in India. That standing request pertains to the High Commission in the Canadian capital as well as the Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver.
A public meeting “to discuss Bhai Amritpal Singh’s Arrest” was organized at the Sikh Spiritual Center in the town of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA by the Ontario Gurdwara Committee. Gatherings from Brampton to protest action against Singh and his associates also featured Khalistan flags and banners. Similar protests are planned through the week.
There were also online threats to disrupt meetings and events being attended by Indian diplomats in the country including High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma in Surrey, in the Metro Vancouver region. The call to the protestors asked them to “Mask up” and to leave their IDs and cellphones at home.