INDIA TO LODGE PROTEST OVER PRO-KHALISTAN EVENTS IN CANADA, ITALY

TORONTO/NEW DELHI: India is taking up with foreign governments, including those of Canada and Italy, the actions of pro-khalistan elements in events linked to the farmers’ protest over three farm laws, people familiar with developments said on Wednesday.

A sizeable group of protestors, including some carrying Khalistan flags and placards, converged on a veranda leading to the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Republic Day, and weren’t prevented by law enforcement from blocking the entrance.

In Italy, unidentified persons painted the slogan “Khalistan Zindabad” on the facade of the Indian embassy in Rome and put up several pro-khalistan flags and banners at the gate ahead of Republic Day. The Indian side took up the incident with Italian authorities and conveyed its concerns, the people said.

India intends to formally complain to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the country’s foreign ministry, over allowing the preplanned blockade of the consulate in Vancouver by protestors opposing the farm laws.

The people said they were incensed that the protestors in Vancouver were allowed to “violate the sanctity of diplomatic premises” and that they weren’t prevented from taking “direct action despite promises to the contrary”.

The presence of a person who recently threatened India’s consul general Manish among the protestors is of particular concern to Indian authorities.

The people cited above said India has been constantly raising its concerns about protests near the Indian embassy in Rome with Italian authorities and this was done again recently in view of Republic Day.