New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s security level has been elevated to “Z category” by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. This decision comes in response to new posters displayed by Khalistani groups in Canada, which depict the images of Minister Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for their assassination.
These posters were exhibited by the Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, where Hardeep Singh Nijjar was reportedly killed by unidentified individuals on June 18 in a suspected gang-related incident.
The SFJ posters announce a “referendum” on whether a separate state should be established outside of India, with the vote scheduled for Vancouver on October 29, following a protest that will commence on October 21 from Surrey to the Indian consulate. Notably, these posters had previously advocated for the assassination of the Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, as well as Consul Generals Manish and Apoorva Srivastava.
The security upgrade for Minister Jaishankar underscores the seriousness with which the Indian government is addressing such threats, particularly in the context of extremist elements abroad promoting violence against Indian officials and leaders. The “Z category” security status includes enhanced protection and surveillance measures to safeguard high-profile individuals from potential harm.