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India cautions Canada after Indira assassination tableau
There is a larger underlying issue about space given to separatists, extremists, people who advocate violence... It’s not good for the relationshipS jaishankar,external affairs minister
India on Thursday cautioned the Canadian government that the activities of Khalistani elements and violent extremists on their territory could impact bilateral relations and have security implications.
The government’s position was laid out by external affairs minister S Jaishankar four days after a tableau depicting the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi was part of an event organised by pro-Khalistan elements in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) of Canada.
The float depicted the assassination as “revenge” for Operation Bluestar, the military action ordered by Gandhi in 1984 to flush out separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and his supporters from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. The float sparked anger and outrage in India.
Jaishankar told a special media briefing on India’s foreign policy during nine years of the Modi government that the float is linked to the bigger issue of the “space that Canada has continuously” provided to Khalistani elements.
“Frankly... we are at a loss to understand, other than the requirement of vote bank politics, why anybody would do this... I mean, you would imagine that they learn about history and they wouldn’t like to repeat that history,” he said, in an apparent reference to Canada being a key base for Khalistani elements in the past.
“It isn’t only one incident, however egregious it may be. I think there is a larger underlying issue about this space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. And I think it’s not good for the relationship and I think it’s not good for Canada.”
Jaishankar’s remarks came after India’s high commission in Ottawa sent a formal note to Canada’s foreign ministry on Wednesday to express displeasure over the float, which had mannequins depicting Gandhi and her killers, two members of her security detail.
The foreign minister also cautioned Australia and the UK.
He said India’s opposition to activities of Khalistani elements was not limited to Canada, as the Indian side has raised the matter with the UK and Australia. He noted that he had criticised British authorities for lack of protection to the Indian mission in London when “Khalistan supporters took down our flag” during a protest in March and there were “some issues in Australia”.
“Our point is this — they (pro-Khalistan elements) are a very small minority. We do not believe that they represent any significant body of opinion. Our plea to these governments is — look, please understand these are marginal elements, they are extremist elements, they are not good for you, they are not good for us, they are not good for the relationship. It’s not a message limited to Canada,” he said.
Jaishankar also rubbished Canadian National Security Adviser Jody Thomas’s remarks listing India among countries that are the top sources of foreign interference in Canada. He said the Hindi phrase that came to his mind on hearing of the comments was “ulta chor kotwal ko daante” (the thief rebukes the policeman).
“If anybody has a complaint, we have a complaint about Canada. What I said earlier — the space they are giving to Khalistanis and to violent extremists. I was very perplexed by what I heard,” he added.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute in Ottawa on Friday, Thomas had said, “When I talk about foreign interference and economic security, I’m now talking about a number of state actors and non-state proxies. This includes Russia, Iran, India. That said, the actor that comes up most on these issues, and it’s no surprise to anybody, is China.”
The “shaheedi” float was part of a parade held to mark the 39th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, and it had a sign that said the assassination was “Revenge for Attack on Shri Darbar Sahib”, referencing the storming of the Golden Temple complex.
A senior Indian official described the occurrence as “not acceptable”, and said, “You cannot exceed freedom of expression like this, glorifying the assassination of the leader of a democratic nation.”
Canada’s high commissioner in New Delhi, Cameron Mackay, denounced the float. He 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.”
The tableau and the parade are linked to organisations based in Brampton city in Greater Toronto Area, for long seen as a hotbed for Khalistani elements. Other tableaux at the event featured Bhindranwale and other major figures in the Khalistan movement. More than the UK and Australia, the activities of these elements in Canada have emerged as a major irritant in relations with India. Indian officials have, over the years, also highlighted the links between Khalistani elements in Toronto with the Pakistani mission in Canada.
A senior Indian official noted that developments such as Thomas placing India among authoritarian states will lead to Ottawa frittering away positive momentum developed in bilateral ties, particularly with a productive visit by commerce minister Piyush Goyal last month.
Thomas’s comments have been criticised by the Indo-Canadian community. The National Alliance of Indo-Canadians tweeted, “Indo-Canadians are politically marginalized and face racism and religious bigotry in daily life. Genuine grievances and concerns of citizens must not be mixed up with foreign interference.”
