Last Updated: June 08, 2023, 10:13 IST
The tableau celebrating the assassination of Indira Gandhi was part of a 5-km long parade in Brampton. (Screengrab/Twitter)
High Commissioner for Canada in India Cameron MacKay criticised the event by saying there is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence
In a shocking incident from Canada, a tableau featuring the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was paraded in Brampton.
The tableau celebrating the assassination of the late PM was part of a 5-km long parade in Brampton on 4 June. The parade was allegedly organised by pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, two days before the anniversary of ‘Operation BlueStar’.
A video of the incident has been making rounds on the internet, in which the statue of Indira Gandhi can be seen drenched in blood. However, News18 couldn’t verify the authenticity of the video shared on social media.
Indira Gandhi, the first female prime minister of India, was assassinated at her residence in New Delhi on October 31, 1984 by her bodyguards after the controversial ‘Operation Bluestar’ was carried out.
Under the operation, the Indian Army launched an attack to remove pro-Khalistan militants from the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar, which is Sikhism’s holiest site. The operation and the violence that unfolded led to massive protests by the Sikh community.
Does it help Canada’s ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’? A float depicting murder of late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about 5 KM long parade in city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it! pic.twitter.com/rBFn7vMKyz— Balraj Deol (@BalrajDeol4) June 6, 2023
The video of the tableau has been criticised by people and netizens attacked Canada’s Justin Trudeau government for the negligence.
“Does it help Canada’s ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’? A float depicting murder of late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about 5 KM long parade in city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it!” Balraj Deol wrote on Twitter.
The shocking incident comes just days after the National Security Advisor to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau remarked that India was meddling in Canada’s internal affairs.
“When I talk about foreign interference and economic security, I’m now talking about a number of state actors and non-state proxies.” NSA Jody Thomas reportedly said on Friday.
“This includes Russia, Iran, India. That said, the actor that comes up most on these issues, and it’s no surprise to anybody, is China,” she added.
Meanwhile, High Commissioner for Canada in India Cameron MacKay said he is appalled by the event and added that there is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence.
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
“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 said in a tweet.
Earlier in March, India had summoned the Canadian High Commissioner to convey “its strong concerns about the actions by pro-Khalistani extremist elements against Indian diplomatic missions in Canada in recent time.”
