NEW DELHI: Recalled Indian Excessive Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, on Friday shared his harrowing expertise concerning an assault by Khalistani activists in Alberta. He described a daunting incident the place the attackers almost harmed him with what he recognized as swords.
In an ANI podcast, Verma stated the makes an attempt occurred regardless of the presence of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). “All these makes an attempt to hurt me bodily, that was within the presence of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) … the native police on the bottom took fast motion, pushed him away as a result of there was a pointy weapon and the RCMP then whisked me from the facet door to the venue,” he stated.
Elaborating on the assault, Verma stated: “It was in Alberta … most certainly they’d have stated that it was a ‘kirpan’ which is a small blade whereas that they had swords of their hand. They might come very, very near me.”
Verma revealed different types of intimidation that got here by numerous means, together with emails, protests, and slogans shouted by Khalistani extremists throughout public occasions.
Describing an incident close to Diwali when his effigy was burnt as Ravan and one other case whereby a poster of him riddled with bullets, Verma questioned whether or not such acts constituted hate speech.
“Some got here by emails throughout the so-called protests, which I name hooliganism once they gathered in entrance of the 2 consulates or the Excessive Fee. They might shout slogans to intimidate us. At any time when we had been attending public occasions, once more, they’d shout slogans to intimidate us,” he stated.
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In response to the harassment and threats, Verma “reported this to the overseas ministry”, although he said he by no means acquired suggestions concerning the standing of any investigations by Canadian authorities.
In line with his assertion, the “response was that we forwarded it to the related authorities, which is right. We additionally do the identical. However the report by no means got here again. Okay. So we presume that nothing occurred. So we presume that it went right into a black field. To not come out.”
Nonetheless, regardless of the threats, Verma stated, “Threatened, sure. However did I develop into threatened? No. In most of my public occasions, there can be these hooligans exterior shouting slogans towards India, but additionally towards me. A few of them are very burly-looking tall guys who would additionally gesture to bodily hurt me, however simply the gestures, apart from just a few incidents. And they also tried.”
Then, whereas discussing his safety preparations, the Verma stated, “I had Canadian safety, each the federal and native.” When questioned about doubts of their capacity to guard him, Verma responded, “No, that I will not say. They had been very skilled, well-trained, and really respectful. So so far as the law enforcement officials who had been defending us and now defending my colleagues there, very, very skilled, by no means had an iota of doubt on their professionalism.”
Nonetheless, Verma expressed disappointment concerning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police press briefing, saying, “However sadly, the assertion which we noticed within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police press briefing, the place even the investigation has not been concluded, that was a tragic factor to see.”
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The Excessive Commissioner emphasised his dedication to serving India’s nationwide curiosity, explaining that “diplomacy for many of us can be, you realize, being good, good cities. However then the ultimate goal of diplomacy occurs to be to safeguard your nationwide curiosity. Nationwide curiosity could possibly be enhancing relationships. Nationwide curiosity could possibly be elevating consciousness towards these Khalistani goons. All these are nationwide pursuits.” “”So we work for the nationwide pursuits. It so occurred that my nationwide curiosity was a bit totally different than the nationwide curiosity of most different ambassadors in different international locations,” he added.
Verma was recalled from Canada following allegations by the Canadian authorities that he was concerned within the homicide of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Verma denied these allegations. The strained relations between India and Canada worsened after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing. India has rejected these claims, accusing Canada of harboring extremist components.
