In a disturbing display of extremism, pro-Khalistan groups in Canada organized a rally on Saturday that featured floats glorifying the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The floats, prominently displayed near the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, depicted the bombing that killed Singh and 16 others, and paid tribute to the suicide bomber responsible, Dilawar Singh Babbar.
This incident comes amid rising concerns over the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Canada. In Toronto, a rally led by Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a key organizer of the Khalistan Referendum and associate of Sikhs for Justice's legal advisor Gurpatwant Pannun, praised supporters as "offspring" of Dilawar Singh. Gosal himself recently received a verbal "duty to warn" from Canadian police regarding a threat to his life.
The Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned terrorist organization in Canada, claimed responsibility for the 1995 bombing. This is not the first instance of such provocative displays by pro-Khalistan groups in Canada. Earlier this year, floats depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi were also showcased during rallies, drawing condemnation from Canadian authorities.
These incidents have sparked outrage and concern in India and among the Sikh community worldwide. The glorification of violence and terrorism is unacceptable, and such acts threaten to disrupt communal harmony and damage bilateral relations between India and Canada.
The Indian government has repeatedly raised concerns about the activities of pro-Khalistan extremists in Canada and has urged Canadian authorities to take decisive action against them. While Canadian officials have condemned the promotion of violence, concerns remain about the adequacy of measures taken to curb the activities of these groups.
