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Khalistani outfit plans to target Indian envoy in Surrey
It will be Verma’s first visit to Surrey, British Columbia, after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s June 2023 assassination.
The Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa is scheduled to visit the province of British Columbia in March / X/@HCI_Ottawa
Khalistani separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SJF) has threatened to “target” India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, ahead of his first visit to Surrey on March 1.
The alleged plan is in response to Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination in the same British Columbia town in June 2023.
Canadian President Justin Trudeau alleged India’s involvement in his assassination in September 2023, resulting in tense ties between the two countries ever since.
The Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa is scheduled to visit the province of British Columbia in March. A visit to the capital city of Victoria, a stop in Vancouver, and then Surrey have been planned.
Verma will hold meetings with the Surrey Board of Trade, who have organized an event where Verma will delve into opportunities for shaping the way for enhanced economic engagement between India and Canada at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. Verma is also scheduled to meet with Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.
In an email, SJF general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said that the organization will “question-target” Verma in Surrey, a Hindustan Times report said. “India is responsible for orchestrating assassination of Shaheed Nijjar and pro-Khalistan Sikhs will have an opportunity in Surrey to directly ‘Challenge-Target-Question’ the Indian High Commissioner. A protest is also being organized in Surrey then,” the email reportedly read.
Verma also expressed he is aware of the threat against him and has been “assured” of his safety by concerned Canadian authorities. He added SJF, which is a banned organization in India, “continues its venomous efforts to derail otherwise rich Canada-India bilateral relations.” Verma kickstarted his British Columbia visit with the first pitstop in Vancouver.
“High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma interacted with business community in #Vancouver in an event organized by @cgivancouver & @BC_IBN. His remarks focussed on opportunities, economic engagement & pathways 4 BC’s business to engage #NewIndia @HCI_Ottawa” read a post on the Consulate General of India Vancouver’s X account.
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