Pro-Khalistani Parade in Brampton Raises Concerns Over Extremism in Canada

Ottawa — A pro-Khalistani parade in Brampton has sparked renewed concerns over extremism in Canada after a report said the event featured displays glorifying the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and targeting Indian military figures.

A report in Khalsa Vox said a widely shared video from Brampton showed what it described as “a disturbing spectacle, a brazen display of extremism” on Canadian soil.

According to the report, the parade was held on Sunday during events marking the anniversary of Operation Blue Star, the 1984 Indian military operation at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The report said a massive 50-foot moving tableau, organized by pro-Khalistan elements, openly glorified Gandhi’s assassination. It reportedly depicted Gandhi being shot by her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, on Oct. 31, 1984.

Another life-size figure targeted Lt. Gen. Kuldip Singh Brar, who led Operation Blue Star, with a bullseye on his forehead, the report said. Banners at the event called for “Revenge” over the military action against Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers inside the Golden Temple, it added.

The report said the Brampton event was not an isolated provocation, noting that the city’s large Punjabi diaspora has increasingly made it a hub for such processions.

According to the report, a five-kilometer parade featured Khalistani flags, glorification of violence and open calls echoing separatist ideology. It said Sikhs for Justice, which India designated as a terrorist organization and banned in 2019 for activities prejudicial to national security, continues to operate freely in Canada through its so-called “Khalistan Referendum” campaigns.

The report said freedom of expression cannot be used to justify the glorification of terrorism. It also said that while Canada designates certain groups as threats, activities linked to SFJ continue to persist.

The report warned that such incidents could further strain India-Canada relations, already tense over the Nijjar killing and trade issues. It also raised concerns for the wider Indo-Canadian community, saying Hindu temples in Brampton and Surrey have reportedly faced targeting, underscoring fears of “spillover hate.”

The report said such acts undermine the shared democratic values between India and Canada and argued that the viral videos from Brampton show the cost of “unchecked separatism.”

“India will defend its sovereignty and unity. Friends must not harbour those who celebrate its leaders’ murders. The time for performative outrage is over — concrete measures against extremism are essential,” the report said. (Source: IANS)