If the imaginary Clarkesville Pioneer Social Club had a parade and said that the mayor, premier, and prime minister could come, but their safety could not be guaranteed, the police would visit these people pronto. Like the police visited protestors before the Olympics and had a few chats with them. Yet for the Sikhs, the police shied away, being very fearful it seems of these politically connected people.
Quote from the article in the Vancouver Sun,
"Inderjit Singh Bains, an organizer of the parade, told The Vancouver Sun in a Thursday interview that it was the decision of the committee organizing the parade not to invite Dosanjh or Hayer and, therefore, it was not the organizers' responsibility to ensure the politicians' safety if they decided to attend."
`Martyr' float casts doubt on future of annual Sikh parade
`Martyr' float casts doubt on future of annual Sikh parade
By Rebecca Lindell, Canwest News ServiceApril 18, 2010
VANCOUVER - Surrey city council will review if annual Vaisakhi celebrations comply with city policy after a controversial political float depicting Sikh ``martyrs'' unexpectedly showed up in Saturday's parade.
The float flies flags of Khalistan, a proposed-nation state encompassing the Punjabi region of India, and displays pictures of Sikh martyrs, some of whom are members of groups Canada considers terrorist organizations.
``We had assurances by the organizers that that float was not going to be in there, and lo-and-behold, it showed up, which was really disappointing,'' said Surrey's mayor, Dianne Watts, who left the parade route when she heard the float would be coming by.
The parade's political foray could mean changes in the future. The city provides permits for parades as long as they benefit the community and are not political.
The parade already broached the political last week when one of the organizers told a Punjabi radio station that Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh and B.C. Liberal MLA Dave Hayer are not invited to the annual event - and if they do show up, they'll be responsible for their own safety.
The remarks prompted Premier Gordon Campbell to boycott the parade.
"It's a religious celebration," the premier told reporters Friday. "It's not a political comment. People are free to express their political positions in Canada, but you are not in a position to single out individual elected representatives and say 'they better watch out if they come.' That simply is not acceptable in this country."
Inderjit Singh Bains, an organizer of the parade, told The Vancouver Sun in a Thursday interview that it was the decision of the committee organizing the parade not to invite Dosanjh or Hayer and, therefore, it was not the organizers' responsibility to ensure the politicians' safety if they decided to attend.
Dosanjh lodged a complaint with the RCMP Thursday after being contacted by The Sun, which obtained an English transcript of the radio show commentary.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff jumped into the fray on Saturday demanding an apology for the controversial remarks.
``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 the statement. ``It is appropriate that the organizers extend my colleague Ujjal Dosanjh and BC MLA Dave Hayer an apology.''
Ignatieff said the parade's rightful role is as an inclusive community celebration.
``It is unfortunate that such an important community celebration has been tarnished by these threats of violence,'' Ignatieff said.
With files from Lori Culbert and Jonathan Fowlie
Vancouver Sun
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Quote from the article in the Vancouver Sun,
"Inderjit Singh Bains, an organizer of the parade, told The Vancouver Sun in a Thursday interview that it was the decision of the committee organizing the parade not to invite Dosanjh or Hayer and, therefore, it was not the organizers' responsibility to ensure the politicians' safety if they decided to attend."
`Martyr' float casts doubt on future of annual Sikh parade
`Martyr' float casts doubt on future of annual Sikh parade
By Rebecca Lindell, Canwest News ServiceApril 18, 2010
VANCOUVER - Surrey city council will review if annual Vaisakhi celebrations comply with city policy after a controversial political float depicting Sikh ``martyrs'' unexpectedly showed up in Saturday's parade.
The float flies flags of Khalistan, a proposed-nation state encompassing the Punjabi region of India, and displays pictures of Sikh martyrs, some of whom are members of groups Canada considers terrorist organizations.
``We had assurances by the organizers that that float was not going to be in there, and lo-and-behold, it showed up, which was really disappointing,'' said Surrey's mayor, Dianne Watts, who left the parade route when she heard the float would be coming by.
The parade's political foray could mean changes in the future. The city provides permits for parades as long as they benefit the community and are not political.
The parade already broached the political last week when one of the organizers told a Punjabi radio station that Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh and B.C. Liberal MLA Dave Hayer are not invited to the annual event - and if they do show up, they'll be responsible for their own safety.
The remarks prompted Premier Gordon Campbell to boycott the parade.
"It's a religious celebration," the premier told reporters Friday. "It's not a political comment. People are free to express their political positions in Canada, but you are not in a position to single out individual elected representatives and say 'they better watch out if they come.' That simply is not acceptable in this country."
Inderjit Singh Bains, an organizer of the parade, told The Vancouver Sun in a Thursday interview that it was the decision of the committee organizing the parade not to invite Dosanjh or Hayer and, therefore, it was not the organizers' responsibility to ensure the politicians' safety if they decided to attend.
Dosanjh lodged a complaint with the RCMP Thursday after being contacted by The Sun, which obtained an English transcript of the radio show commentary.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff jumped into the fray on Saturday demanding an apology for the controversial remarks.
``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 the statement. ``It is appropriate that the organizers extend my colleague Ujjal Dosanjh and BC MLA Dave Hayer an apology.''
Ignatieff said the parade's rightful role is as an inclusive community celebration.
``It is unfortunate that such an important community celebration has been tarnished by these threats of violence,'' Ignatieff said.
With files from Lori Culbert and Jonathan Fowlie
Vancouver Sun
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
