The security forces closely monitored the G7 protesters in Calgary, after traffic interruptions created by some pro-palestinian protesters on Sunday prevented firefighters from responding to several emergency calls.
Calgary Police estimated about 500 protesters from about 13 different groups gathered outside the Calgary City Council on Sunday.
Monday’s protests, on the contrary, were much more subjected, but noisy
The largest and strongest group was composed of approximately 30 SIJs, supporters of Khalalistan, an independent sij homeland in Punjab, who hoped to send a message to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited to the G7 summit by the Prime Minister.
The Modi government has been accused by the RCMP of participating in the “serious criminal activity” in Canada that represented a “serious threat” for public security, including homicides and violent acts against the SIJS separatists, as described in a statement issued by the RCMP the past fall.
The Indian government has refused to cooperate with a RCMP investigation into the participation of India in the murder of 2023 of Hardep Singh Nijjar, who was a Canadian citizen and prominent member of the SIJ separatist movement.
Sikh leaders question the G7 invitation from Carney to Modi as a threat to Jagmeet Singh
While many in the SIJ community see Carney to Modi as a betrayal, Kuljet Singh of Sikhs for Justice sees the appearance of Modi in the G7 in a slightly different way.
“We would like to thank Prime Minster Carney for extending the invitation to Prime Minister Modi because without that invitation, the SIJs would not make the opportunity to challenge and face modes,” said Singh
“We want the responsibility of Narendra Modi, we want the G7 nations to apply pressure so that the exhibition of the killing list and so that the G7 nations work in a collaboration unit to sanction India and use international law and its diplomatic medium to isolate India so that feces”, Saut Comar, who traveled from Toronto to Calgary to attend protest.
“We are here to basically send a message to the G7 countries that under the government of Modi, (there) have an escalation of transnational repression, the murder of the SIJS,” said Bakhish Sandhu, a SIJ of Philadelphia in Calgary for the G7.
“We are asking that the G7 counteract that convinces and presses India to maintain an official and binding referendum so that Punjab people can decide if they want to make Punjab a dispersed country or remain in India, and live the same rights as the G7 cited similar.
Many of the SIJ protesters carried large yellow and blue flags: the unofficial flag of the state of Khanalistan. Others wore posters asking for the modi trial. You can see another scratching an Indian flag.
Although there have been previous violent clashes between supporters and opponents of the Indian government in Canada, so far Calgary’s protests have been peaceful.
“We are also grateful to the Local Police, the RCMP, which has a great leg to work,” said Kuljet Singh. “They have helped us in every step of the road. They know we are peaceful. We never advocate violence.”
Even so, the security in Monday’s protests was adjusted. With the officers keeping the protesters close, the threat of violence never far from the minds of the officers.
“Most of these protests are legal, peaceful and safe and that is what we expected,” Sppt said. Joe Brar of the Calgary Police Service.
“However, this is a global event and the possibility of interruptions from people outside the city. We are prepared for multiple scenarios.”
Prime Minister Carney’s office has defended the invitation to the Indian prime minister by saying that “the G7 summit will focus on the most pressing global challenges and opportunities that we face today. As prime minister of the fifth majority of polls, it was Costipar Costioti, critical discussions.”
Modi is expected to arrive in Calgary on Monday night and with a video of the protest areas designated in Calgary live to the Summit site in Kananaskis, Sijs protesters say they will return again on TuesdayHundreds of protest in Calgary before the G7 Summit