Consular work disrupted: Indian High Commission in Canada

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa has said its consular camp saw “violent disruption” on Sunday and blamed “anti-India” elements for the disruption.

The High Commission put out a statement, saying, “We have seen violent disruption today (November 3) orchestrated by anti-India elements outside the consular camp.”

Though the statement did not mention it, a scuffle occurred between two groups of Indian-origin people in Brampton. It is not known if the scuffle was related to disruption of High Commission’s work.

The statement of the High Commission was posted on X on Monday morning, Indian Time.

Such camps are for the benefit and ease of ‘local life certificate’ beneficiaries (both Canadian and Indian), the High Commission said.

It said the Canadian authorities had been requested to provide security. “On account of the prevailing security situation in Canada, the Canadian authorities had been requested in advance to provide strong security measures for these events, which constitute routine consular work.”

There were also attempts to disrupt similar camps held in Vancouver and Surrey on November 2-3, the statement said.

The High Commission’s statement said, “It is deeply disappointing to see such disruptions being allowed for routine consular work being organised by our consulates.”

The High Commission said it remained “very concerned” for the safety of applicants, including Indian nationals, on whose demand such events are organised.

“Despite these efforts by anti-India elements, the consulate was able to issue more than 1,000 life certificates to the Indian and Canadian applicants,” the statement said.

The High Commission said all scheduled consular camps in future would be contingent on security arrangements made for them by local authorities.

In case any camp is not feasible to be held due to such disruptions, alternative arrangements will be made to render those services, which may unfortunately inconvenience local users of these services.

The statement said there are continued threats posed to the Indian diplomats and officials, local venue organisers as well as local attendees and organisers.

The High Commission said that in the past such consular camps have been conducted by the High Commission of India in Ottawa and Consulates General of India in Vancouver and Toronto.