India hammers Canada for march float showing ex-PM Gandhi's homicide
March in Canadian city portrays the 1984 death of Indir Gandhi by her guardians in evident glorification of brutality by Sikh separatists.
India has hit out at Canada for permitting a float in a motorcade portraying the 1984 death of Indian State head Indira Gandhi by her protectors, saw to be a glorification of brutality by Sikh separatists.
"I think there is a bigger hidden issue about the space which is given to separatists, to radicals, to individuals who advocate brutality," India's Outside Undertakings Clergyman S Jaishankar told correspondents in New Delhi while remarking about the scene in a procession.
"I think it isn't really great for connections, not great for Canada," he said.
Canada's High Magistrate in India likewise censured the episode at a motorcade by Sikh activists in the Canadian city of Brampton.
Video coursed lately on the web showed a scene from the motorcade including Gandhi wearing a blood-stained white saree with her hands up as turban-clad men pointed weapons at her. A banner behind the scene read: "Retribution".
“I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,” Cameron MacKay said on Twitter.
“There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities.”
Several members of Gandhi’s Congress party condemned the holding of the parade in the Canadian city and demanded action from the Indian government.
“It’s not about taking sides, it’s about respect for a nation’s history & the pain caused by its Prime Minister’s assassination,” former Congress Mumbai leader Milind Deora wrote on Twitter.
Gandhi was assassinated in 1984 by two Sikh bodyguards after she allowed the storming of the holiest Sikh temple, aimed at flushing out Sikh separatists who demanded an independent homeland to be known as Khalistan.
The storming of the temple angered Sikhs around the world. The death toll in the attack remains disputed, with Indian authorities putting it in the hundreds and Sikh groups in the thousands.
Canada has the highest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab in India.
Earlier this year, India summoned Canada’s high commissioner to convey concern over pro-Khalistan protesters in Canada who breached the security of India’s diplomatic mission and consulates.
Bilateral commercial relations between the two countries are worth $100bn, which includes $70bn of Canadian portfolio investment, according to official figures.
