India has expressed its strong objection to a float in the Canadian city of Brampton that celebrated the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Indian Government has labeled it as “vote bank politics” and criticised Canada for providing space to separatists and extremist elements. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has tersely urged Canadian authorities to address the issue firmly.
The Congress party has also called on Jaishankar to take decisive action by raising the matter with Canadian authorities. In response, the Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay, expressed his dismay over the float, stating that there is no place in Canada for “hate or for the glorification of violence”.
India formally conveyed its displeasure to the Canadian Government on Wednesday through a note sent by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa to Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The incident was described as “not acceptable” in the note.
Minister Jaishankar emphasised that Canada’s allowance of anti-India elements operating within its borders is detrimental to the bilateral relationship and Canada itself. He expressed confusion over Canada’s motivations, highlighting the need for the country to learn from history and avoid repeating such incidents. The controversial float, depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi, came to light through a video shared on social media. The footage indicated that the float was part of a parade organised by alleged Khalistani elements in Brampton. However, the authenticity of the video is yet to be verified.
The parade, reportedly stretching over 5 kilometre, was orchestrated by Khalistani supporters just days before the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. Congress leader Milind Deora shared the video on social media, expressing his shock and emphasising the importance of respecting a nation’s history and the pain caused by the assassination of its Prime Minister. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh and senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor echoed Deora’s sentiments, calling for united condemnation of the incident.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinate highlighted the glorification of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by pro-Khalistan extremists in Canada. She criticised the Indian Government for making only a general comment without even mentioning Indira Gandhi by name. Shrinate urged the Indian Government to officially address the issue with the Canadian authorities, stressing that national interests and security should take precedence over political concerns.
This extremist act has sparked outrage in India, with calls for a united response to condemn such actions that disrespect a nation’s history and promote violence. The Indian Government is expected to pursue the matter further with the Canadian Government to address the concerns raised.
