India has asked Canada to take action against anti-India elements operating from its soil. The comments by Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came when asked about reports that Canada has charged two persons for threatening on social media to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but such actions are missing against those threatening Indian leaders and diplomats, PTI reported.
The RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET), Northwest Region this week arrested and charged two individuals for uttering threats against several public figures in two separate investigations.
On May 10, 2024, INSET received information that a user of the social media platform “X”, formerly known as Twitter, had allegedly posted threats to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On June 6, 2024, Mason John Baker, 23, a resident of Calgary, was charged with uttering threats against a person contrary to section 264.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
On June 7, 2024, INSET received information that a YouTube account user had allegedly posted threats to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh. On June 13, 2024, Garry Belzevick, 67, a resident of Edmonton, was charged with three counts of uttering threats against a person contrary to section 264.1(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The RCMO said in a release, “The RCMP is mandated to investigate criminal offences arising from terrorism, espionage, cyber attacks, nuclear security risks, foreign influenced activities, incidents involving the security of an Internationally Protected Person (IPPs), the unlawful release of national security information and terrorist financing.”
As part of its protective mandate, the RCMP is responsible for safeguarding designated Canadians and select foreign diplomatic personnel residing in Canada, as per Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as well as visiting IPPs.
“The security environment in which public figures operate continues to evolve both within Canada and abroad, and we recognize this is a time for increased vigilance,” the press release mentioned.
“In the digital age, where so many interactions occur online and are perceived to be anonymous, there is a belief that virtual actions and words do not have consequences. When these virtual actions or words cross the boundaries of Charter-protected speech and constitute criminal activity, police will investigate thoroughly to hold those responsible accountable,” said Insp. Matthew Johnson, Acting Officer in Charge of RCMP Federal Policing INSET, Northwest Region.
Following the news India’s external affairs ministry called it double standards of Canada. “We have seen these reports. When a democracy adopts different yardsticks to measure or implement the rule of law and freedom of expression, it only exposes its own double standard,” said Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “We expect Canada to take action against anti-India elements who have repeatedly threatened Indian leaders, institutions, airlines and diplomats by violence,” he said.
Recently Chandra Arya, Nepean MP in the Canada House of Commons, wrote on X that separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a video demanding that Arya and his Hindu-Canadian friends go back to India after he condemned the vandalism of the Hindu temple and other acts of violence by Khalistan supporters in Canada.
Amidst rising Hinduphobia in Canada, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was vandalised with alleged hateful and anti-India graffiti on Monday morning in Edmonton in Alberta state. Arya, a Member of Parliament from Nepean in the House of Commons, said in a post on his X account that separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice released a video demanding that Arya and his Hindu-Canadian friends go back to India after he (Arya) condemned the vandalism of the Hindu temple and other acts of hate and violence by Khalistan supporters in Canada.