Days after an attack on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Ontario, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the cancellation of upcoming consular camps in Toronto, citing security concerns. The consular camps, organized by India’s diplomatic missions in Canada, provide essential services such as life certificates to Indian nationals and those of Indian origin.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the planned consular camp in Toronto was called off after local authorities failed to provide adequate security. “Security agencies conveyed their inability to ensure minimum protection for the community camp organizers, forcing the Consulate to cancel the event,” Jaiswal said.
The decision follows a violent disruption on November 3, when a group of men breached the gates of a Hindu temple in Brampton during a consular camp. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, calling it a “deliberate” act of intimidation against Indian diplomats. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa also reported disruptions at similar consular camps in Vancouver and Surrey earlier in the week.
Despite these challenges, the High Commission was able to process over 1,000 life certificates during the Brampton camp, underscoring the importance of these services to the local Indian community. The Indian government has pledged to make alternative arrangements for any missed services, though it acknowledged that this may cause some inconvenience.
