Ottawa: Chandra Arya, an MP from Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party, stated that the assassination bid on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania was a stark reminder to Canadian politicians to "condemn Khalistan supporters".
In a statement posted on X, the MP hailing from Karnataka said, “Assassination attempt on President Trump should be a stark reminder for Canadian politicians to: 1. Condemn Khalistan supporters’ public celebration of assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards turned assassins. 2. Stop attending rallies, events and places where the biggest terrorism event in Canadian history - Air India bombing is rejoiced and Khalistan’s terrorists responsible for this attack are glorified. 3. Call out Khalistanis who target Hindu-Canadians.”
Arya's statement comes in the wake of a controversial parade in Brampton, Greater Toronto Area (GTA) on June 9, which included a float featuring an effigy of former PM Indira Gandhi as she was being fired upon by her bodyguards. It also featured posters, stating her “punishment” had been “delivered” on October 31, 1984, the date of the assassination.
The parade marked the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar when the Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar to flush out Khalistani extremists including their leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. This float appeared just three days after a similar display during a protest in front of India’s Consulate in Vancouver. Reacting to that, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc posted on X, “The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.”
Last year, on June 4, a similar float was part of a martyrdom day event in the GTA. Indira Gandhi’s assassination was followed by the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and elsewhere in the country, which resulted in thousands being killed and businesses looted.
