EAM Jaishankar Flays Canada Over ‘Celebration’ of Indira Gandhi’s Assassination in a Parade

NEW DELHI: India has sharply reprimanded Canada for allowing the inclusion of a float during a parade in Brampton that seemed to ‘celebrate’ the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

What raised the ire of India is a six-second clip that was shared on Twitter by one Balraj Deol, saying that the offending float was included in a 5 km-long parade in the Canadian city of Brampton on June 4.

There was an increase in diplomatic temperatures as the video purportedly showed a tableau in the parade where Indira Gandhi was shown draped in a blood-stained white saree with her hands held up, even as turban-clad men was pointing guns at her. A poster put up in the background contained the word ‘Revenge’.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was at a loss to understand what compulsions, other than that of vote bank politics as to why anybody would have done that. He pointed to a bigger underlying issue regarding the scope that is given to the separatists, extremists and people who advocate violence.

“I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” he said during a media briefing in Delhi on Thursday.

“If you look at their history, you would imagine that they would learn their history and they wouldn’t like to repeat that history,” he added.

The Congress party was quick in condemning the incident and urged Jaishankar to follow up on the matter with the Canadian government.

Congress leader Milind Deora said in a post on social media, “As an Indian, I’m appalled by the 5 km-long parade which took place in the city of Brampton, Canada, depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi.”

He said that it is not about taking sides, but respect for the nation’s history and the pain caused by the assassination of its Prime Minister. He added that this type of extremism deserved universal condemnation and a united response to it.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh endorsed the tweet and said: “I entirely agree! This is despicable and Dr S Jaishankar should take it up strongly with the Canadian authorities”.

Canada’s High Commissioner for India Cameron MacKay also condemned the incident. He said on Twitter on Thursday that he was appalled by the reports of the event in Canada showing the celebration of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination. “There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities,” he tweeted.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated at her residence by her Sikh bodyguards following Operation Bluestar in June 1984. Earlier this week, the 39th anniversary of the former PM’s killing was marked.

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