India's external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has expressed his displeasure over Canada's apparent tolerance of pro-Khalistan elements after visuals of a parade float in Brampton surfaced depicting the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
The Indian diplomat said New Delhi failed to understand why Ottawa gave space to extremists and separatists, other than vote bank politics.
India's former prime minister Indira Gandhi (Photo by STF/AFP via Getty Images)
Jaishankar, who is known for his sharp takes on global affairs, said this after a video emerged on social media showing a float depicting the killing of Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. It was reportedly part of a five-kilometre long parade taken out by pro-Khalistan supporters in Brampton.
The video is believed to be from a parade which was taken out by the pro-Khalistan supporters on Sunday (4), two days before the 39th anniversary of Operation Blue Star that the Indira Gandhi government had conducted against Sikh separatists.
Indira Gandhi was assassinated four months later, in October 1984, at her own residence in New Delhi.
New Delhi formally expressed its displeasure to the Canadian government on Wednesday (7) over the incident.
The Indian mission in Ottawa sent a formal note to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), describing the occurrence as “not acceptable”.
Canadian high commissioner in India Cameron MacKay came on record to condemn the depiction of the former prime minister's assassination, saying that there is “no place for hate or glorification of violence in Canada”.
Pro-Khalistan activists have been staging anti-India shows in various democratic nations such as Canada, Australia, US and the UK over the past few years and the Indian government has been critical of them and urged the government of those countries to take stern action against them.
BJP supporters celebrate as the party takes lead during the West Bengal Assembly elections result day, at Raiganj, in Uttar Dinajpur district, Monday, May 4, 2026.PTI
In this screengrab from a video posted on May 4, 2026, Family members of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, including S A Chandrasekhar and Shoba, celebrate as early trends show the party leading in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, in Chennai. PTI
Congress MP KC Venugopal celebrates with party workers as the party takes lead during the Kerala Assembly elections result day outside KPCC office, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, May 4, 2026. PTI
Artists play traditional drums as BJP workers celebrate the party taking lead during the Assam Assembly elections results day, at party headquarters, in Guwahati, Monday, May 4, 2026. PTI
Puducherry: Poll officials during the counting of votes for the Puducherry Assembly elections at a counting centre, in Puducherry, Monday, May 4, 2026. PTI