In yet another show of Canada’s patronage of anti-India separatist activities, dozens of pro-Khalistan protestors disrupted the India Day Parade in Canada’s Toronto on Sunday (August 18) as they created tensions during the Independence Day celebrations organised by the Indian diaspora.
A viral video on social media captured the purported clash between the pro-India and anti-India groups who came face to face in Toronto over the weekend. WION could not independently verify the video.
The parade, held on August 18 at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, was reportedly one of the largest commemorations of India’s independence in the country.
The recent incident follows another such confrontation between Indian supporters and Khalistan separatists in an industrial area near Surrey, BC, on India’s Independence Day.
The Toronto parade featured the “largest Indian flag outside India”, along with several floats representing Indian states.
Also watch | India-Canada diplomatic spat deepens
The Independence Day celebrations in Canada were held amid heightened security measures due to a purported counter rally by pro-Khalistan groups. New Delhi has not yet officially commented on the incident.
New Delhi has called on Ottawa to curb the activities of anti-India groups, arguing that such actions undermine the rule of law and threaten diplomatic relations.
The India-Canada ties have nosedived since last September when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented about the so-called “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has strongly denied the claims. India said in a statement that it rejects “any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments,” calling itself “a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.”
In recent months, pro-Khalistan activities in Canada have surged with open patronage from the Canadian state in the name of “freedom of speech” and have consequently drawn the ire of the Indian government.
(With inputs from agencies)
Mukul Sharma
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