Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic A. LeBlanc, has unequivocally stated that the promotion of violence is unacceptable in Canada. This declaration follows reports of posters depicting the assassination of India’s former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters in Vancouver.
LeBlanc addressed the issue on X, emphasising that “the promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada”. Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984, an event that remains a sensitive historical moment.
The incident has also drawn concern from Chandra Arya, an Indo-Canadian lawmaker representing the electoral district of Nepean in the House of Commons. Arya highlighted the potential impact of such imagery on the Hindu-Canadian community.
“Khalistan supporters in Vancouver, with posters showing Hindu Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s body with bullet holes and her bodyguards-turned-assassins holding their guns, are attempting to instill fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians,” he said.
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Arya pointed out that this incident follows a pattern of similar threats, including a controversial float in Brampton a couple of years ago and recent statements by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), who called for Hindus to leave Canada.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Pannun is a prominent leader in the Khalistan movement and serves as the legal advisor and spokesperson for SFJ, an organization advocating for a separate Sikh state.
Arya urged Canadian law enforcement agencies to take immediate action, warning that the use of violent imagery could lead to real-world consequences if not addressed.
He noted the prominence of the bindi on Indira Gandhi’s forehead in the posters, suggesting it was a clear indication that the intended targets were Hindus in Canada.
India has consistently voiced concerns about the space afforded to separatists, terrorists, and anti-India elements in Canada. This latest incident underscores the ongoing tension surrounding these issues.
