Toronto, June 8: A year after he accused the Indian Government of initiating “a genocidal campaign against the Sikh minority beginning with a military invasion of the Golden Temple”, New Democratic Party or NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was curiously silent on the first anniversary of Operation Bluestar since he attained that position.
However, the day was marked by hardline organisations in Canada with what they are describing as the “largest rally ever” at the very symbolic location of Parliament Hill, the seat of Canada’s government.
The statement issued in June 2017 by Singh, then a candidate for leadership of the Federal party, had him describe June 6 as an “unthinkable day.” And an “attempt to extinguish the Sikh community.”
However, Singh has come under scrutiny in Canadian media this year over his appearance at controversial events aimed at seeking a separate Sikh homeland and he has had to soften his earlier firebrand stance. His silence so far this year may be a result of that public criticism.
Hardline pro-Khalistan groups, on the other hand, had a show of strength in Ottawa’s Parliament Hill on Saturday to mark the anniversary. This also comes in the wake of scrutiny of the Khalistan movement in Canada following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s difficult visit to India in February.
Among the principal organisers of the rally was Sukhminder Singh Hansra, president of the Shiromany Akali Dal Canada (East). He claimed a crowd of nearly 1,000 had gathered for “the largest rally ever” to mark this day.
“The significance is the place, it’s the Parliament of the country,” he said.
He also said they wanted to make a pointed statement that Canada was a free land where they could “pledge that we will never forget 1984.”
The chief guest at the event was Pritam Kaur, widow of Rashpal Singh, assistant to Jarnail Singh Bhindrnawale and the latter’s image was displayed on posters even as Khalistani flags fluttered in front of the building housing Canada’s House of Commons and Senate.
Some gurdwara committees organised buses to bring people to Ottawa from the cities of Toronto, Montreal and Hamilton.
While the event was coordinated by the United Front for Sikhs (Canada) group, it also had support from Sikhs for Justice, Ontario Gurdwaras Committee, Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwaras Council and the British Columbia Sikh Council.
The World Sikh Organisation also marked the day, using the hashtag #WeRemember1984 on Twitter.
Source Hindustan Times
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