According to the intelligence unit, the parade was organised on the anniversary of “Operation Bluestar”.
New Delhi: Responding to the video floated on social media of a parade in Brampton City depicting the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, external affair minister S Jaishankar said yesterday that it is not good for the relationship between both the countries.
A parade was organised on June 4 in Brampton City in Canada by pro-Khalistan supporters depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The video showed the cutout of Indira Gandhi in a white saree flooded with blood and the cutout of two soldiers pointing fingers.
According to the intelligence unit, the parade organised on the anniversary of “Operation Bluestar”.
“Operation Bluestar” was an Indian armed forces action inside the premises of Golden Temple to kill the militants led by Damdani Taksal leader and Khalistani Separatist, Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale in Amritsar in 1984. The operation happened under the command of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Soon after ‘Operation Bluestar’, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her own Sikh bodyguards.
Foreign minister Jaishankar expressed concern about the rising separatists incident in Canada and the space that has given to these moments there.
“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, extremists, to people who advocate violence. I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” said the external affair minister.
Indian high commission in Ottawa also condemned the incident and sent their discontent to the Canadian foreign ministry.
“Appalled by the report”
High Commissioner for Canada to India, Cameron Mackey tweeted on Thursday condemning the incident. In his tweet, Cameron said he is appalled by the report of the celebration of the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
“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 the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities”, his tweet noted.
Indian National Congress also responded to the incident by celebrating Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Congress secretary general, Randeep Singh Surjewala, in a press conference yesterday at party headquarter, condemned the incident and said Indira Gandhi has always defended the unity and integrity of India.
”Ms Gandhi, as also the then Punjab Chief Minister late Beant Singh and thousands of Congress workers had laid down their lives to defend the unity and integrity of the country,” said Surjewala.
This is not the first time such an incident took place in Canada. The pro-Khalistan supporter often carried anti-India activities. The Indian government has asked the Canadian government to take stringent action against separatists several times but no concrete steps have been taken by the government of Canada in this direction so far.