Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar condemned the pro-Khalistan elements in Canada after visuals surfaced of a parade tableau in Brampton depicting the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
S Jaishankar’s reaction comes after a video emerged on social media showing a tableau depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
The tableau was reportedly part of a 5-km long parade taken out by Khalistani supporters in Brampton.
“India fails to understand why Canada gives space to separatists and extremists, other than vote bank politics,” Jaishankar said.
“There is a larger question not just this one incident. This is not good for India-Canada relationship and for Canada itself,” he said.
The viral video is believed to be from a parade taken out in Brampton by Khalistan supporters on June 4, ahead of the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star on June 6.
India has expressed its displeasure to the Canadian Government on June 7 over the incident. India’s High Commission in Ottawa sent a formal note to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), describing the occurrence as “not acceptable”.
Then Indian PM Indira Gandhi was killed by her own Sikh bodyguards — Satwant Singh, Beant Singh and Kehar Singh – who fired 31 bullets at her. While Beant was killed by security men, the other two were later hanged. She was assassinated at her residence in New Delhi on October 31, 1984, months after Operation Bluestar.
Operation Bluestar was carried out by the Indian Army to flush out hundreds of Khalistani extremists led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple in Punjab’s Amritsar in June 1984.
Canadian High Commissioner in India Cameron MacKay came on record to condemn the depiction of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, saying that there is “no place for hate or glorification of violence in Canada”.
When asked about Canada’s action against hundreds of Indian students whose visa documents were found to be fake, S Jaishankar assured that the Ministry of External Affairs was engaging with Canadian authorities on the issue, stating that the students acted in “good faith” and were not to blame.
S Jaishankar said, “From the very start, we have taken up this case and our point is, the students studied in good faith. If there were people who misled them, the culpable parties should be acted against.”
“It is unfair to punish a student who undertook their education in good faith. I think the Canadians also accept that it would be unfair if a student has done no wrong…We will continue to press,” he added.
It is to be noted that, the Canada Border Security Agency issued deportation notices to nearly 700 Indian students, mostly from Punjab, after their admission offer letters were found to be fake.
The mastermind of the scam, who ran a Jalandhar-based immigration and counseling service, is currently absconding.
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