Jaishankar Slams Canada for "Giving Space" to Khalistan Separatists in Tableau on Indira Gandhi's Murder

 

The Khalistan groups continue to be a source of friction between India and Canada. On June 8, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar criticized Canada for continuing to provide a platform for "separatists, extremists, and people who advocate violence".

When Jody Thomas, Canada's national security adviser, said that India is "among the top sources of foreign interference in Canada," Jaishankar said he was "perplexed." The external affairs minister claimed that while hearing the statement, the term "the pot calling the kettle black"—a version of the Hindi expression "ulta chor kotwal ko daante"—came to mind.

"We have a complaint about Canada if anyone has one. What I mentioned earlier, the room they are giving to violent radicals and Khalistanis," he remarked.

He also questioned the tableau that was part of a march honoring Indira Gandhi's murder in the Ontario province city of Brampton. He claimed that the "egregious incident" brought attention to a more serious problem, namely the tolerance of violent extremists, separatists, and Khalistan organizations in Canada.

The external affairs minister remarked, "Frankly, we are at a loss to understand why anybody would do this [give space to such groups] other than the requirements of vote bank politics."

"I think this is not good for the relationship [with India], and I think it's not good for Canada," he continued.

"If you look at their history, you would imagine that they would learn about it and they wouldn't like to repeat that history," Jaishankar added.

On June 4, a tableau during a parade in the Ontario city of Brampton featured Indira Gandhi dressed in a white saree splattered with blood as men wearing turbans pointed weapons at her. The phrase "Revenge for an attack on Shri Darbar Sahib" refers to the 1982 Indian security forces' invasion of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which was done at the former prime minister's request to assassinate Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. In 1984, two Sikh bodyguards murdered her.

On Thursday, the tableau was also attacked by Cameron MacKay, Canada's high commissioner to India. He expressed his disgust at the incident. "Hatred and the glorification of violence have no place in Canada. I vehemently oppose these actions," he tweeted.

EAM Dr S Jaishankar speaks on reports of late PM Indira Gandhi's assassination celebration in Canada; says, "... I think there is a bigger issue involved... Frankly, we are at a loss to understand other than the requirements of vote bank politics why anybody would do this... I… pic.twitter.com/MLEE0HNINt

— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) June 8, 2023