Promotion of violence not acceptable: Canadian minister

Promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, a minister has said after posters depicting the assassination of India's former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were reportedly put up by Khalistan supporters in Vancouver.An Indian-origin Canadian lawmaker also expressed concern over the issue, saying by doing so, the Khalistan supporters are trying to instil fear of violence in Hindu Canadians.“This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver,” Dominic A LeBlanc, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs said on X.

This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver. The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada.

— Dominic LeBlanc (@DLeBlancNB) June 7, 2024

Indian-origin Canadian MP on Saturday urged its government to take immediate action after Khalistani supporters in the country put up a disparaging float of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, depicting her assassination.Hindu-Canadian lawmaker Chandra Arya condemned the derogatory portrayal of Gandhi during a protest outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver. The float, which was part of demonstrations marking the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, depicted India’s late PM’s death who was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.

Khalistan supporters in Vancouver with posters, of Hindu Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi body with bullet holes with her bodyguards turned assassins holding their guns, are again attempting to instil fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians.
This is continuation of threats with a… pic.twitter.com/ia8WQL4VtH

— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) June 8, 2024

In Vancouver, several posters also depicted echoes of Operation Bluestar, a military operation in 1984 aimed at removing Khalistani extremists, including their leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, from the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.The protest was organized by the “Sikhs for Justice" (SFJ) group, a separatist outfit advocating for the Khalistan movement. The Indian government has previously registered strong protests over growing Khalistan activities. Several reports suggest Indian officials plan to convey a formal diplomatic complaint to Canadian authorities.