Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions, the Indian Consulate in Canada on Thursday cancelled several scheduled consular camps due to security concerns. The decision came after warnings from local security agencies about their “continued inability to provide minimum security protection” for the events’ organisers.
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In a statement, the Consulate General of India in Toronto explained, “Due to continued inability conveyed by security agencies to provide minimum security against heightened threats, the Consulate has had to cancel some more consular camps. Most of them were not at any places of worship, including one at a Police facility. The Consulate is fully sensitive to the difficulties faced by close to 4,000 elderly members of the diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area—both Indian and Canadian nationals—who have been deprived of an essential consular service.”
Earlier this month, the Consulate announced the cancellation of several camps after local authorities indicated they could not guarantee necessary security. This announcement came in the wake of a violent disruption at a consular camp held at the Hindu Sabha Temple near Toronto.
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Following the disruption, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal commented, “Our consulate in Toronto had to cancel the consular camp they were planning to organize over the weekend because they did not get adequate security or security assurance from the government.”
The consular camps are critical for the Indian diaspora, especially during November and December, as many require documentation for pensions and other administrative processes. Jaiswal added that while camps in some parts of Canada, such as Vancouver, will continue, their organisation depends on the assurance of safety from local community groups.
“These consular camps are conducted at the request of community organizations. So where the community organisation is comfortable, we will go ahead with these consular camps,” Jaiswal clarified.
The cancellations have raised concerns within the Indian diaspora in Canada, particularly elderly members, who rely on these camps for essential services.