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India hits out at Canada for giving space to separatists, extremists elements

A video has emerged on social media that showed a float depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi in Canada
Last Updated 08 June 2023, 15:06 IST

India on Thursday strongly targeted Canada for giving space to anti-India elements after visuals of a tableau in the Canadian city of Brampton celebrating Indira Gandhi's assassination emerged on social media, saying it is not good for the bilateral relationship as well as for itself.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he was at a loss to understand why anybody would do this, even as Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay made it clear that he was "appalled" by the reports of the event in his country and Congress asking the Minister to strongly take up the issue with Canada. The tableau was part of a parade organised by Khalistanis in Brampton.

Jaishankar made it clear that Canada allowing anti-India elements to operate from there was not good either for the relationship between the two countries and for itself. He said the "bigger issue" involved is the space that has "continuously" given to such elements.

"Frankly we are at a loss to understand other than the requirements of vote bank politics, why anybody would do this. Because if you look at their history, you would imagine that they learn from history and they would not like to repeat that history,” he said.

“It is not only one incident, however egregious it may be. I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence and I think it is not good for relationships and not good for Canada," he added.

Responding to the incident, Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay said he was "appalled" by the reports of the event in his country that "celebrated" the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

"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 tweeted.

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(Published 08 June 2023, 10:45 IST)

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