A Hindu temple in the province of Ontario, Canada has announced the cancellation of a consular camp it was to host on Sunday after local law enforcement warned of “reliable intelligence regarding security concerns.”
The Vaishno Devi Mandir in the town of Oakville was to host the consular camp, held by India’s Consulate in Toronto, on November 23. The camp was meant to provide life certificates to pensioners.
However, on Thursday, the executive committee of the temple issued a statement announcing the cancellation. It said the camp was cancelled “following official communication from Acting Chief Roger Wilkie of the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS). Based on reliable intelligence regarding security concerns, HRPS has deemed it necessary to cancel the event to ensure the safety of all participants, including Consulate staff, community members, and the general public.”
The statement said alternate venues was explored including the HRPS headquarters. However, it said “the current security assessment” by HRPS led to the “conclusion that the event cannot proceed in a manner that reasonably addresses the associated risks to the Consulate Staff as well as attending public.”
“We are profoundly saddened that our senior citizens and community members cannot safely access these essential services at places of worship or public institutions. The safety and security of our congregation, particularly our elderly members, remain our paramount concern,” the statement added.
The secessionist group Sikhs for Justice or SFJ had said on Wednesday that it would stage a demonstration at the Oakville temple on Sunday, and at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Toronto on November 30, to protest the presence of Indian officials at the consular camps.