Consulate attack in America

Dia TV, a South Asian broadcast TV network in the US, said in a tweet that the embassy was set on fire between 1:30-2:30 a.m. last Sunday. The fire brigade extinguished it immediately. There was very limited damage and no workers were hurt. At the same time, Khalistan supporters have released the video of the attack. In this, along with anti-India slogans, the news related to the death of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada has also been shown. Nijjar, a terrorist wanted in India and carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, was shot dead in Canada on June 18. Khalistan supporters have also announced to take out a rally till the Indian Embassy in California and San Francisco on 8th July. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller tweeted, “The US strongly condemns the vandalism and attempted arson against the Indian Consulate. Vandalism and violence against foreign diplomatic facilities is a punishable offense in the United States. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann condemned the attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. The Congress has demanded the central government to take necessary steps to protect India’s diplomatic missions and ensure punishment of the perpetrators. Canada has assured India of the safety of diplomats after Khalistan supporters attacked the Indian High Commission and warned against threats to diplomats. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said in a statement shared on Twitter, Canada takes seriously its obligations under the Vienna Convention regarding the protection of diplomats. Propaganda materials circulating online in relation to the 8 July protests, which mention the names of Indian diplomats, are completely unacceptable. In light of this, his country is in touch with the Indian authorities. We know that the actions of some do not speak volumes about the community or Canada as a whole.

In view of the increasing activities of Khalistanis against India abroad, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had said that the staunch Khalistani supporters are neither good for India nor good for the interests of America, Britain, Canada and Australia. Jaishankar had said that he is aware of the posters issued by Khalistan supporters recently in Canada. Soon this issue will be taken up with the Government of Canada. He said that we have urged our partner countries like Canada, America, Britain and Australia not to give any place to Khalistan supporters as it is not good for any country. Canadian pro-Khalistan organizations have announced to take out a Khalistan Freedom Rally on July 8 in front of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa. In the posters issued for this, photographs of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and Toronto-based Consul General Apoorva Srivastava have been placed. Objectionable things have also been written for him. The poster states that the rally is being held in memory of pro-Khalistan activist Harjit Singh Nijjar, who was murdered on June 18 in the parking lot of a gurdwara in the state of British Columbia.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a resident of Bhar Singh Pura village in Jalandhar, Punjab, went to Canada in 1995 and later joined the Khalistani movement. It was declared a terrorist by the Government of India in 2020 and carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on its head. The Canadian government is shying away from taking any strict action against the Khalistanis for its political gains. Khalistan supporters are taking advantage of this. Now after taking a tough stand by the Government of India, it will be known in the coming time only what action Canada, Australia, America, England and other countries take against Khalistan supporters. Even after India’s tough stand, if Khalistan supporters sitting abroad continue their activities against India, then India will have to reconsider its policy towards the above countries. Foreign Minister S. Even after Jaishankar’s indication, if Khalistan supporters get protection and support in Canada, America, Australia or any other country, then India will have to take strict steps accordingly.

– Irwin Khanna (Chief Editor, Dainik Uttam Hindu)