“I was in #SurreyBC to cover the HCI Ottawa Indian High Commissioner’s visit, where a pro-Khalistani group treated the Canadian media like this. Ask your Punjabi-speaking friends or colleagues what derogatory and embarrassing words they are using here.”
— Sameer Kaushal
On March 20, Sameer Kaushal, News Director at Radio AM600 was attacked by a pro-Khalistani group in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. In a Twitter thread, Kaushal wrote about the incident and said that the police present at the scene asked him to leave instead of acting against the attackers, reported opindia.com.
He wrote, “I was in #SurreyBC to cover the HCI Ottawa Indian High Commissioner’s visit, where a pro-Khalistani group treated the Canadian media like this. Ask your Punjabi-speaking friends or colleagues what derogatory and embarrassing words they are using here.”
In the video, Kaushal is shown being taken away by the police. At one point, he was almost pushed by one of the officers who were asking him to leave. Further in the video, abuses in the Punjabi language could be heard directed at Kaushal.
He further wrote, “They pushed and threatened me in a public place in the heart of the city of Surrey. Shockingly, the Surrey RCMP remained mute spectators to this whole affair inspite of the protest turning violent. Instead of stopping the culprits, the Surrey RCMP kept asking me to leave for my own safety as they were not able to provide a taxpayer the same.”
- Kaushal said he was deliberately targeted because he appeared to be of Indian origin
- He added that he ‘shows what is happening in Punjab and India’ and talks about both sides
- However, the ‘vigilante’ elements did not like those who spoke positively about India and Indian policies
- Kaushal pointed out there were no ‘prominent personalities’ from Surrey at the protest
In an interview with India Today, Kaushal said he had gone there for an event at around 6 p.m. scheduled by the Indo-Canadian diaspora to welcome the Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma. There were functions scheduled in Gurudwara and Temples, followed by a meet-and-greet with the Indian diaspora. However, a group of around 125 pro-Khalistanis blocked the event and did not let anyone go inside.
When Kaushal attempted to get in, he was stopped and attacked. He further added that the protesters used derogatory language against India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Kaushal said he was deliberately targeted because he appeared to be of Indian origin. He added that he ‘shows what is happening in Punjab and India’ and talks about both sides. However, the ‘vigilante’ elements did not like those who spoke positively about India and Indian policies. Kaushal pointed out there were no ‘prominent personalities’ from Surrey at the protest.
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