The Congress party has questioned the External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, for not explicitly condemning the parade in Canada that celebrated the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. They have called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to his Canadian counterpart and convey India’s disapproval of such acts.
During a press conference, Mr. Jaishankar responded by saying that the issue was not conducive to maintaining good relationships between the two countries. He raised the broader concern of a country providing space for separatists and extremists who advocate violence. He emphasized that this situation was detrimental to both India and Canada.
The Congress party, however, expressed dissatisfaction with Mr. Jaishankar’s response. Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal stated that Prime Minister Modi, the External Affairs Minister, and the Indian High Commission in Canada should take strong measures to convey the anger of the Indian people. He criticized Mr. Jaishankar for not specifically acknowledging Indira Gandhi’s martyrdom and for not unequivocally condemning the event.
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala called on the Prime Minister to immediately contact Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He raised concerns that Khalistani elements could potentially impact the security situation in Punjab and the rest of the country. He questioned why the Canadian High Commissioner had not been summoned and why no diplomatic protest had been lodged. Mr. Surjewala suggested that the government’s response might be influenced by political considerations, raising doubts about how India’s interests were being treated.
The issue was initially brought to attention by Congress leader Milind Deora, who shared a video of the parade depicting the assassination in Brampton, Canada. He expressed his dismay as an Indian and emphasized the importance of respecting a nation’s history and the pain caused by the assassination of a Prime Minister.
Other Congress leaders, such as Jairam Ramesh and Supriya Shrinate, also condemned the incident. Jairam Ramesh called it despicable and urged Dr. Jaishankar to strongly address the matter with the Canadian authorities. Supriya Shrinate stated that the Indian government’s response had been insufficient, emphasizing the need for official action to be taken by India with the Canadian government.
Canadian High Commissioner to India, Cameron Mackay, expressed his dismay over the reports of the event and condemned the glorification of violence. He emphasized that there is no place for hate or violence in Canada.
Author: IBC Global Times
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