• Source:JND
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said that ensuring the security of the Indian consulate is the responsibility of the Canadian government, following reports of a recent threat to the Indian consulate in Vancouver, Canada.

MEA spokesperson Jaiswal was responding to questions about India’s stance, days after Sikhs for Justice, a banned Khalistani outfit, issued a threat to “siege” the Indian consulate in Vancouver.

“It is the responsibility of the Canadian government or the host government, wherever we are...wherever we have diplomatic establishments to provide security. As and when there is a concern we do take it up with our concerned side, in this case Canada, to ensure that there is adequate security of our diplomatic premises,” Jaiswal said.

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Jaiswal also confirmed that the Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval held talks with his Canadian counterpart on Thursday, September 18, describing the meeting as a part of routine bilateral security consultations. 

Jaiswal's remarks came days after the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) issued a public notice threatening to siege the Indian consulate in Vancouver for 12 hours on September 18. The notice also urged the Indo-Canadians in the city to postpone their visits to the consulate. 

“Indo-Canadians planning routine visits to the Vancouver Indian Consulate on 18 September are advised to refrain and choose another date. Pro-Khalistan Sikhs Shaheed Nijjar will lay a historic "SIEGE" of the Consulate to demand accountability for Indian state-directed espionage and intimidation on Canadian soil,” the notice read.

The SFJ also circulated a notice featuring India’s High Commissioner-designate, Dinesh K. Patnaik, with a target symbol on his face, captioning “New face of India’s Hindutva terror in Canada.”

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The latest threat comes a year after the diplomatic ties between India and Canada deteriorated, following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

However, in a significant step towards mending diplomatic ties, India and Canada have appointed Dinesh K. Patnaik and Christopher Cooter as their respective high commissioners in each other’s capitals.