 |
| Parade participants wave from floats making their way down the streets of Surrey for the Vaisakhi parade. Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, PNG |
Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has joined the call for an apology from a Vaisakhi parade organizer who said two B.C. politicians were not welcome at the event — and were responsible for their own security if they showed up.
Ignatieff’s demand Saturday came after Premier Gordon Campbell boycotted the parade in Surrey and also called for an apology.
“Let us be clear: We must unequivocally condemn all threats of violence and extremism in Canadian communities. No public official, no matter what their political affiliation, should ever be excluded or require security at a public event such as this,” Ignatieff said in a statement.
The controversy stems from comments made by Inderjit Singh Bains, one of many parade organizers.
During a talk show on Sher-E-Punjab radio last Thursday, Bains singled out Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh and Liberal MLA Dave Hayer as the two uninvited politicians who would be responsible for their own security if they showed up.
While the incident created a storm of debate, it appeared to do little to dampen the spirits of tens of thousands of revellers who showed up in the rain Saturday to celebrate Vaisakhi, the birth of Sikhism.
Still, two popular Indo-Canadian radio talk show hosts said Campbell’s absence was noted, calling the move a political mistake.
Harjinder Thind, a Red FM news director and talk show host, said Campbell missed an opportunity to use one of B.C.’s biggest cultural events as a forum to speak out against the controversial statements.
“In my view, I think the premier could’ve shown a bit more courage and spoken to the people [at Vaisakhi],” said Thind. Harpreet Singh, a Radio India talk show host, agreed.
“He should’ve been here, been a part of the celebrations and it’s not a loss to the community, it’s a loss to him. He could’ve told [attendees] what he feels about the occasion because the community is not to be blamed for one person,” said Singh.
The Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar temple, the key organizer of the event, tried to smooth things over by issuing a statement Friday saying everyone was welcome to attend Vaisakhi, but stopped short of offering an apology.
Jatinderpal Singh Gill, one of many organizers, said Dosanjh and Hayer were welcome to attend — but added they could not go on the main stage put on by the temple because they are “always opposing the issues in the community.”
Dosanjh and Hayer are both political moderates whose views sharply contrast with those of some organizers who support extremist calls for a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan in the Punjab region of India.
Dosanjh in particular has been an outspoken critic of images displayed at the event depicting the assassins of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi as martyrs. Those images were once again on display Saturday outside the Dasmesh Darbar temple.
The parade also included one float with a sign that read “Sikhs want out of India. They want their homeland Khalistan.”
Despite the controversy, the mood was largely joyous and celebratory as the streets filled with the jewel tones of women dressed in beautifully embroidered suits and the smell of delicious food and chai being doled for free.
Some people said they were not even aware of the controversy, while others said they paid little attention.
“It’s such a great day to be overshadowed by that and I wish that everyone would just get along. It’s really sad, but nevertheless we’re here to celebrate and not really get involved in the politics,” said Charn Dhami, 31, who handed out food cooked by his mother and aunt.
Organizers said about 100,000 people were to attend the parade, which is one of the largest Vaisakhi events outside of India.
Dosanjh, who attended Vancouver’s Vaisakhi parade last weekend, has never been to the Surrey event and did not appear Saturday.
Hayer cancelled plans to attend after the radio comments.
Both lodged complaints with the RCMP following the statements made on radio. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts also contacted the RCMP, but attended the event.
© Copyright (c) The Province