'Siege': Calls for the Assassination of Dinesh Patnaik, Designate Envoy to Canada, Made by Khalistanis; Incendiary Posters Circulate Widely
In a troubling turn of events, Khalistani groups have called for the assassination of Dinesh Patnaik, India's High Commissioner-designate to Canada. The chilling threat was made public through posters published by the team of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The posters, which are now viral on social media, mention the address of the Consulate General of India and a date, September 18. They also label Dinesh Patnaik as the 'new face of Hindutva terror' in Canada, a claim that has been met with widespread criticism and concern.
It is important to note that Dinesh Patnaik's diplomatic roles do not seem to be related to the Pro-Khalistan bill passed in California, an unrelated event to the threats against him. The Khalistani outfit mentioned on the poster includes Narinder Singh, Manjinder Singh, Avtar Singh, and Gurmeet Singh.
Dinesh Patnaik, a senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1990 batch, has over three decades of diplomatic experience. He has served as India's Ambassador to Spain, Cambodia, Morocco, and held various postings in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, as well as significant roles within the Ministry of External Affairs in India.
Prior to his appointment as India's High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik served as the Ambassador of India to Spain. He also served as India's Deputy High Commissioner in the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2018. Dinesh Patnaik holds a Master's in Physics from Delhi University and an MBA from IIM Calcutta.
The time mentioned on the poster is 8 am to 8 pm, suggesting a potential siege on the Consulate General of India during these hours. Khalistani groups have threatened to lay siege to the Consulate General of India, a development that has raised concerns about the safety and security of the diplomatic mission.
Dinesh Patnaik is set to formally take charge in Canada in the coming days. The Indian government and authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Dinesh Patnaik and the Consulate General of India.
This is a developing story and more updates will follow as the situation unfolds. The Indian community in Canada and around the world are urged to maintain peace and harmony, and to reject any form of violence and extremism.
