Indian diplomats were 'threatened' in Canada; expect action against attacks on UK, US missions, says Jaishankar

S. Jaishankar. File Photo

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said that Indian diplomats were repeatedly “threatened” and “intimidated” in many ways in Canada and New Delhi got very little help from the Canadian system that time.

He also said that India expects action against the culprits involved in last year’s attacks on its high commission in London and consulate in San Francisco.

Speaking at the TV9 Summit, Jaishankar said, “We had to suspend issuance of visas in Canada because our diplomats were not safe going to work. Our diplomats were repeatedly threatened. They were intimidated in many ways and we got very little comfort from the Canadian system that time.”

He said that as a minister he could not have risked exposing the diplomats to the kind of violence which was very clearly prevalent in Canada at that time. He, however, added that the situation has improved since then.

“That part of it has been rectified. Today, our visa operations are pretty much normal,” he added.

In September last year, India temporarily suspended issuance of visas to the Canadian citizens, a move that came days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly rejected Trudeau’s allegations.

The visa services were resumed several weeks later.

To a question on the space given to the Khalistani elements in Canada, he cited instances of throwing of smoke bombs into the Indian missions in that country.

“They (Canada) keep telling us that we are a democracy. There is freedom of speech and, therefore, people say these things,” Jaishankar said.

“Freedom of speech cannot extend to intimidating diplomats who are doing their duty. Throwing smoke bombs to embassy and consulates, advocating violence and separatism against a friendly state is not freedom of speech, this is misuse of freedom of speech,” he added.

He also said that India expects action against the culprits involved in last year’s attacks on its high commission in London and consulate in San Francisco.

“We expect the culprits in the attack in our consulate in San Francisco to be brought to book, we expect action against people who stormed into our high commission in London,” Jaishankar said.

The Indian high commission in London was attacked by certain pro-Khalistani elements in 19 March last year while there was an attempted arson at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco in July.

Jaishankar said the culprits involved in these attacks must be brought to book.

“In the UK, we actually saw our high commission being attacked by mobs and honestly we did not get the kind of protection which we expected to get,” Jaishankar said.

He said things have improved in the UK and said that we find today a much firmer response in Australia and in the US.

“If a receiving state does not investigate and take action against someone who attacks our embassy and consulates, there is a message in it. I do not think it is good for any of these countries to send that kind of message for their own reputation,” Jaishankar said.

With inputs from agencies