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India rebukes Canada over parade float showing assassination of Indira Gandhi
- A float in a parade by Sikh activists in the city of Brampton, Ontario appears to glorify the 1984 assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards
- India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar hit out at Canada for allowing the float in the parade, while Canada’s High Commissioner for India also condemned the incident
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India’s foreign minister on Thursday hit out at Canada for allowing a float in a parade depicting the 1984 assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, perceived to be glorification of violence by Sikh separatists.
“I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence,” S. Jaishankar told reporters in New Delhi while commenting about the tableau in a parade.
“I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” he said.
There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities
Canada’s High Commissioner for India also condemned the incident at a parade by Sikh activists in the Canadian city of Brampton, Ontario. Internet video circulated in recent days showed a tableau from the parade featuring Gandhi wearing a bloodstained white sari with her hands up as turban-clad men pointed guns at her. A poster behind the scene read: “Revenge”.
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“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.”
Reuters was not immediately able to reach the organisers of the parade for comment.
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