Incumbent on host govts to provide security: India over threats to its diplomats by Khalistani groups in Canada, few other countries
India said on Thursday in a message to countries such as Canada, Australia, the US and the UK where pro-Khalistan groups issued posters with threats against senior Indian diplomats. The safety of the diplomats and security of the Indian missions are of utmost priority to the government and New Delhi has taken it up with countries concerned, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said.
Khalistani activists attempted to burn down the Indian consulate in San Francisco on July 2. Posters inciting violence against senior Indian diplomats have surfaced in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK ahead of a 'rally' being organised by Khalistani groups in these countries.
«In the name of freedom of expression, we should not be giving space to those who advocate violence or propagate separatism or legitimise terrorism,» Bagchi said. He said the posters «inciting violence against our diplomats and our diplomatic premises abroad are unacceptable and we condemn them in the strongest terms.» Bagchi said it is incumbent on host governments to provide security to Indian diplomats and India's missions.
«This is primarily a responsibility that we expect that host governments will discharge as per their obligations under the Vienna Conventions and that we are reminding them of what they need to do and also bringing to their attention specific instances which might come to our attention,» he said. «With respect to Canada, the matter has been strongly taken up with the Canadian authorities both in New Delhi and in Ottawa,» he said.
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