Khalistani Freedom Rally In Canada on July 8: ‘Kill India’ Poster Triggers Outrage

International

oi-Deepika S

A poster displaying pictures and names of Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General of India in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava as killers of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar has sparked widespread outrage among the Punjabi diaspora settled in Canada.

The poster titled ‘Kill India’, is an invitation to a rally titled “Khalistan Freedom Rally” scheduled on July 8.

A veteran journalist Terry Milewski shared the poster on Twitter and wrote, “This is extremely dangerous. Khalistanis are whipping up anger targeting Indian diplomats they call ‘Killers’ of ‘Shaheed’ (Martyr) Hardeep Nijjar, shot in a Mafia-style hit in Surrey BC on June 18. There is zero evidence of any Indian role. Grossly irresponsible.”

“Kill India,” the poster screams. No diplomat should be threatened like this. We have to hope the High Commissioner and the Consul are well protected and that the Nijjar murder is rapidly solved. (Whoever made the poster is no genius. There’s no Indian “embassy” in Toronto.)”, he added.

Khalistan Sympathiser Avtar Singh Khanda Dies in UK Hospital

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that the issue of Indian diplomats’ names appearing on posters of Khalistani elements in Canada, would be taken up with Canadian and other nations’ governments as it may affect relations.

“We have requested our partner countries like Canada, the US, the UK and Australia where sometimes Khalistani activities happen, not to give space to the Khalistanis. Because their (Khalistanis) radical, extremist thinking is neither good for us nor them nor our relations,” the minister said.

“We will raise the issue of posters with those government. I think it would have already been done by now,” he added.

Earlier, a photo of 1985 Air India airplane bombing accused Talwinder Parmar was seen in a pro-Khalistan rally in Canada, seeking to glorify him.

On June 19, pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada’s Surrey.

Nijjar was also associated with the Sikhs For Justice and has been trying to radicalise the Sikh community across the world. With the aim of creating a separate state of Khalistan, he was trying to get the Sikhs to go against India and carry out violent acts.

Nijjar had played a key role in organising the Khalistan referendum in Brampton city. India had asked Canadian authorities to take action against Nijjar for his alleged involvement in terrorist acts in Punjab.