'Khalistani Supporters Crossed Line': Canadian MP Slams Event 'Celebrating' Indira Gandhi Assassination
Condemning the Brampton event celebrating the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Canadian MP Chandra Arya said that with their recent actions, Anti-India and anti-Hindu groups are sending a "dreaded message" to Hindu Canadians.
Candian parliamentarian Chandra Arya on Friday demanded strong action against Khalistan supporters and organisers of the controversial Brampton event that celebrated the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, marking the anniversary of Operation Blue Star. This comes after Cameron MacKay, the High Commissioner for Canada in India, expressed strong condemnation the previous day while India said that such an event was not good for the ties between the two countries while expressing concerns over the space which is given to separatists, extremists, and people who advocate violence.
Talking about the controversial tableau in a video posted on his Twitter handle, Liberal Party's Chandra Arya said: "Khalistan supporters in Canada have reached new low with a despicable float in a recent Brampton parade. The float celebrated the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with her cutout in white saree soaked in blood and cutouts of her bodyguard turned killers brandishing and pointing guns.:
"This is not what our country Canada stands for. Tolerating glorification of violence and public promotion of hate goes against everything our country believes in. Khalistan supporters have crossed a line and Canada should and must respond," he added.
Khalistan supporters in Canada have reached new low with a despicable float in a recent Brampton parade.
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) June 8, 2023
The float celebrated the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with her cutout in white saree soaked in blood and cutouts of her bodyguard turned killers… pic.twitter.com/ZMBipjLMZn
Arya stressed that in the past, he has alerted Canada to anti-Hindu and anti-India hatred, and called for "visible and concrete action." "Anti-India and anti-Hindu groups are vocal and well-organised, well-funded, politically strong, and media savvy. With their actions in recent times including attacks on Hindu temples, targeting Hindu community leaders and Hindu organisations, and even mounting a campaign against public display of flags with Hindu religious sacred symbol Om, these groups are sending a dreaded message to Hindu Canadians," he emphasised.
The Nepean MP called on authorities and the Canadian government to initiate real action "before hatred spreads to physical violence."
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday responded to the event saying, “...I think there is a bigger issue involved...Frankly, we are at a loss to understand other than the requirements of vote bank politics why anybody would do this…”
“I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” Jaishankar added.
#WATCH | EAM Dr S Jaishankar speaks on reports of late PM Indira Gandhi's assassination celebration in Canada; says, "...I think there is a bigger issue involved...Frankly, we are at a loss to understand other than the requirements of vote bank politics why anybody would do… pic.twitter.com/VsNP82T1Fb
— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2023
Cameron MacKay, the High Commissioner for Canada in India, tweeted:
"I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities," MacKay wrote in a tweet.
I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities.
— Cameron MacKay (@HCCanInd) June 7, 2023
The event came to public attention through a video that surfaced on social media platforms showing a tableau on the assassination of the late Indian Prime Minister by her Sikh bodyguards as part of a 5-kilometre-long parade in Brampton on June 4.
Former union minister and Congress leader Milind Deora also took to Twitter to express his displeasure writing, "I'm appalled by the 5km-long parade which took place in the city of Brampton, Canada, depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It's not about taking sides, it's about respect for a nation's history & the pain caused by its Prime Minister’s assassination. This extremism deserves universal condemnation & a united response."
As an Indian, I'm appalled by the 5km-long #parade which took place in the city of Brampton, Canada, depicting the assassination of #IndiraGandhi.
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) June 7, 2023
It's not about taking sides, it's about respect for a nation's history & the pain caused by its Prime Minister’s assassination.… pic.twitter.com/zLRbTYhRAE
Indira Gandhi, who served as Prime Minister of India, was assassinated at her residence in New Delhi on October 31, 1984, months after Operation Blue Star, which was carried out by the Indian Army between June 1 and June 10, 1984, to remove militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation resulted in significant casualties and also caused damage to the Golden Temple, the holiest site in Sikhism.
Concerns have recently arisen over the growing influence of Khalistan supporters in Canada. Last year, Canada faced criticism from India over a referendum on the creation of a separate Sikh country called "Khalistan."
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