“Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously”

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Melanie Joly on Monday, in reaction to posters targeting Indian diplomats over the murder of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara President Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, said they were “unacceptable.”

The “Khalistan Freedom Rally’ poster carries Nijjar’s photo on top with the caption “Shaheed Jathedar Hardeep Singh Nijjar.” It bears the words “Kill India.”

At the bottom, the poster carries the photos of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and Toronto Consul General Apoorva Srivastava under the heading: “Faces of Shaheed Nijjar’s Killers In Toronto.”

The rally, planned for Saturday, July 8 will begin at the Great Punjab Business Centre in Malton and end at the Indian consulate in Toronto.

Joly tweeted: “My comment regarding some of the promotional material circulating for a planned protest on July 8,” and posted the following message: “Canada takes its obligations under the Vienna Conventions regarding the safety of diplomats very seriously. Canada remains in close contact with Indian officials in light of some of the promotional material circulating online regarding a protest planned for July 8th, which are unacceptable. We know that the actions of a few do not speak for an entire community, or Canada.”

National Defence Minister Anita Anand retweeted Joly’s tweet and wrote: “The materials posted online for a protest on July 8 are unacceptable, and they do not represent Canadians. Canada will continue to ensure the safety of foreign diplomats in this country – and we take this responsibility seriously.”