‘This is not what our country stands for’: Canadian MP Chandra Arya condemns celebration of Indira Gandhi’s assassination

Khalistan supporters in Canada have reached new low with a despicable float in a recent Brampton parade.
The float celebrated the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with her cutout in white saree soaked in blood and cutouts of her bodyguard turned killers… pic.twitter.com/ZMBipjLMZn

— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) June 8, 2023

Calling for concrete action against the growing “anti-Hindu and anti-India hatred” in Canada, the ruling party MP said: “Tolerating glorification of violence and public promotion of hate goes against everything our country believes in. Khalistan supporters have crossed a line and Canada should and must respond.”

He added that these groups are “well-organised, well-funded and politically strong”, and have been targeting Hindu temples, leaders and organisations in Canada.

On Thursday, Canadian High Commissioner to India had also reacted to the video clip of the celebration which went viral on social media. Condemning the tableau, he had tweeted: “I am appalled by reports of an event in Canada that celebrated the assassination of late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is no place in Canada for hate or for the glorification of violence. I categorically condemn these activities,” he wrote.

The six-second clip drew considerable flak in India too with a number of politicians, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, criticising it. “Frankly, we are at a loss to understand, other than the requirements of vote-bank politics, why anybody would do this… I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. I think it is not good for relationships, and not good for Canada,” Jaishankar said.