Indian consulate in Toronto cancels camp after Canada says it cannot provide minimum security

The Indian flag flies in front of a man standing at a window at the Indian High Commission in Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. The Indian Consulate has canceled its consular camp in Toronto due to lack of minimum security. |Photo credit: AP

The Indian Consulate in Toronto announced the cancellation of some scheduled consular camps due to the failure of Canadian security agencies to provide minimum security protection.

The Indian Consulate announced the news on social media platform X.

The consulate’s announcement comes just days after the Indian consulate co-organized a consular camp outside the Brampton Hindi Sabha temple near Toronto, where anti-India extremists orchestrated violent riots. Protests were lodged at the highest levels in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing anguish over the incident. 1

The High Commission of India has issued a press statement following the violent attack in Brampton. “The High Commission of India in Ottawa and the Consulate General of India in Vancouver and Toronto have organized consular camps for the benefit and convenience of local life certificate beneficiaries. Looking at the current security situation in Canada, the Canadian authorities have been requested in advance for these events Providing strong security measures, which constitute routine consular work”. The High Commission also said: “It is deeply disappointing that the routine consular work organized by our Consulate, with the full cooperation of local co-organizers, should be so disrupted. “We are also very concerned about the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals. Safety, these events are organized first and foremost according to their requirements.

There were previous attempts to disrupt similar camps held in Vancouver and Surrey on November 2-3. Venue organizers, as well as local attendees, further arrangements for the organization of the consular camp will depend on the security arrangements made for them by local authorities.”

The diplomatic conflict between India and Canada has resulted in Canada violating several international norms, including the Vienna Convention, and conducting surveillance on Indian diplomats, to which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government.