Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc, along with Indian-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya, has spoken out against the recent display of posters depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver. Both officials emphasized that promoting violence is never acceptable in Canada, and expressed concern over the continued attempts of Khalistani supporters to instill fear in Hindu-Canadians. The incident has further strained the relationship between India and Canada, as the Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the celebration and glorification of violence.
Khalistani Separatism: A Resurgence of Tensions Between India and Canada
The recent display of posters depicting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver has sparked renewed concern over the activities of Khalistani separatists in Canada. Khalistan is a proposed Sikh homeland to be carved out from the Indian state of Punjab.
Background
Khalistani separatism emerged in the 1980s as a response to perceived discrimination and oppression of Sikhs in India. The Sikh separatist movement was led by the militant group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), which was responsible for violent attacks against Indian government officials. In 1984, the Indian Army stormed the Golden Temple in Amritsar, a sacred Sikh site, to suppress the movement. The operation resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Sikhs and escalated tensions between India and Canada, home to a large Sikh diaspora.
Recent Developments
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of Khalistani activity in Canada. In 2018, the Sikh separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organized a referendum on Khalistan's independence in Canada. The Indian government condemned the referendum as illegal and inflammatory.
The recent display of Indira Gandhi assassination posters is the latest in a series of incidents involving Khalistani supporters in Canada. In 2020, a Khalistani flag was raised at the Ontario Legislative Assembly during a Sikh parade. The incident drew widespread condemnation from Canadian officials and the Indian government.
Canada's Response
Canadian authorities have condemned the recent Khalistani activities and emphasized that promoting violence is never acceptable. Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc and Indian-origin Canadian member of Parliament Chandra Arya have expressed concern over the continued attempts of Khalistani supporters to instill fear in Hindu-Canadians.
Impact on India-Canada Relations
The Khalistani resurgence has further strained relations between India and Canada. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned the celebration and glorification of violence. India has also urged Canada to take action against Khalistani groups operating in the country.
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