Days after a float depicted the assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi through a float at a parade, Canadian law enforcement has ruled that that act does not constitute a ‘hate crime’, reported Hindustan Times citing an official statement from the office of Brampton Mayor. The event took place on June 4 when a float at a parade in the Greater Toronto Area in Brampton displayed the assassination of Indira Gandhi, marking the anniversary of Operation Blue Star.
As per the report, a statement released from the office of Patrick Brown, the Brampton Mayor, said, “Police have looked at the video and it’s their determination it does not constitute a hate crime.”
The office of the mayor further said that he was not at the event nor was it a city of Brampton function, the report stated.
It further said that under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, “Canadians are guaranteed freedom of thought, belief and expression.”
“Any decision to change Section 2 would be at the Federal level. Police enforce laws. They don’t write them,” the statement noted, as quoted by HT.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the float is linked to the bigger issue of the “space that Canada has continuously” provided to Khalistani elements. He added that it was not good for the ‘relationships’ of the two nations.
“I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space which is given to separatists, to extremists, to people who advocate violence. I think it is not good for relationships, not good for Canada,” Jaishankar added.
Cameron MacKay, the High Commissioner for Canada in India, had expressed strong condemnation on Wednesday for the event that celebrated the assassination of former PM 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,” MacKay wrote in a tweet.
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.
— Cameron MacKay (@HCCanInd) June 7, 2023
Does it help Canada’s ‘Indo-Pacific strategy’? A float depicting murder of late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about 5 KM long parade in city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it! pic.twitter.com/rBFn7vMKyz
— Balraj Deol (@BalrajDeol4) June 6, 2023
The event came to public attention through a video that surfaced on social media platforms. A Twitter user who shared the video wrote, “A float depicting the murder of the late Indian PM by her Sikh bodyguards being part of about a 5 KM long parade in the city of Brampton on June 4th. Jody Thomas may reflect on it!”
