'Attacked With Swords': Recalled Indian Envoy Sanjay Verma Exposes Khalistani Extremism in Canada

New Delhi: As India and Canada stand against each other in its biggest diplomatic row, former Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma narrated how he had escaped a Khalistani attack in Canada while he was there. The former Indian envoy shared a terrifying moment when Khalistanis attacked him with a sword in Alberta while he was along with his wife.

‘Sword Came Around 2-2.5 Inches Close to My Body’

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Sanjay Verma, recalled Indian envoy to Canada revealed chilling details of the time when he escaped a Khalistani attack and how a sword came 2-2.5 inches close to his body. In his words, “Yes, a couple of times they came very close to bodily harm us...They were carrying a sword, it was not a Kirpan...When I was in Alberta a sword came around 2-2.5 inches close to my body... When I was in Alberta my wife was also with me…”

How Recalled Indian Envoy Sanjay Verma Escaped Khalistani Attack

Narrating how he escaped a Khalistan Attack, Sanjay Verma said, “I was in a city in Alberta. And there the Indians had a dinner party which also had cultural programs, where it was expected that I would meet the Indians. And that was a business event. So many businessmen from Canada were there. And the main thing was how we could advance the business relationship, what new things we could bring, what new sectors we could bring. This was in a convention hall. Outside, around 150 people were there who were doing bad things in the name of Khalistan.”

He further said, “My wife was accompanying me. When I was passing, there was a sword. And it was not a kirpan. They may not know the difference between sword and a kirpan. But we Indians who have seen Sikhism, who are so patriotic, where we have seen them, by the grace of Wahe Guru, we know the difference between a sword and a kirpan. So this was a sword, which came about 2 to 2.5 inches away from my body.”

Local Police Launched Probe, Sanjay Verma Reveals Canada's Assessment

Sanjay Verma also told ANI how the local police got into action right after the incident and also held an interrogation but the envoy was not informed about the final results. The former Indian High Commissioner said that they had also informed the Global Affairs of Canada about the incident who also believed that this is not right. 

On Canada's assessment, Sanjay Verma said, “Let's look at their own assessment. The very fact that I was given a close protection detail of RCMP and my two consul generals were given the same, also shows that their assessment was that we could be bodily harmed. I'm talking about their assessment. So there are a couple of such incidents. But my main purpose is that the relationship between the two countries should be restored.”

‘Indo-Canadians Threatened by Khalistani Goons’

Sanjay Verma has also claimed that Indo-Canadians have been constantly threatened by ‘Khalistani goons’ and that their places of worship were also vandalised. He said, “Indo-Canadians are being threatened by the hooligans who are Khalistani goons. They are Khalistani terrorists and extremists. They go in our society of peace-loving Indo-Canadians and threaten them. They go to our places of worship and vandalize them. So if that is being tolerated by the system, the present system in particular, then how can you assure them for normalcy? So probably someone will have to sit down, look at it. Why is it unfair for those Indo-Canadians who believe in a certain religion, in a certain faith, and want to live peacefully and contribute to the growth and development of Canada, being threatened by a handful of goons. That has to be looked at.”

Who is Sanjay Verma?

Sanjay Verma was the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, who has been recalled amid the ongoing India-Canada Diplomatic Row after being called a ‘person of interest’ by Canada in the Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing Case. Verma however had denied all charges levelled against him by Ottawa in connection with the killing of Nijjar.

India-Canada Diplomatic Row

The ties between India and Canada soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in the Canadian Parliament last year that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Nijjar. India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country.

Amid worsening ties between the two countries, India had earlier this month "strongly" rejected a diplomatic communication from Canada suggesting that the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were "persons of interest" in an investigation and termed it as "preposterous imputations" and part of the political agenda of the Justin Trudeau government.In a hard-hitting statement, India said Prime Minister Trudeau's hostility to India has long been in evidence and his government has consciously provided space to violent extremists and terrorists "to harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada".

India had expelled six Canadian diplomats hours after it summoned Canada's Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and conveyed that the "baseless targeting" of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable. 

In another update, several Canadian MPs also gave a final ultimatum to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asking him to resign before October 28 'or face consequences'; Trudeau has been asked to not run for a fourth term as Prime Minister.

(Inputs from ANI)