On March 27, within the metropolis of Edmonton, Canada, the Indo-Canadian neighborhood was celebrating the Holi competition. However, the celebrations had been disrupted by the protesters opposing the three Agriculture Laws handed by the Indian authorities in September final yr.
As per Hindustan Times’ report, over 400 individuals had gathered on the Heritage Valley Park in Edmonton, a metropolis within the province of Alberta, to rejoice Holi. The occasion was organised by the Bharatiya Multicultural and Heritage Society of Alberta. A Peace and Harmony Indo-Canadian Tiranga Yatra was additionally deliberate on the day.
While they gathered on the Park, a bunch of round 100 protesters barged and began shouting slogans in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian authorities. They additionally blocked the route on which the Tiranga Yatra was alleged to happen. The occasion was delayed for round three hours.
Khalistani flags had been noticed on the scene
The organisers of the occasion alleged that some protesters had been carrying Khalistani flags. Reports counsel {that a} Khalistani group Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Canada), additionally despatched out a message saying that the rally was to “demonise the farmers’ protest in India.”
“You are a rodent in front of Bhindranwale” – protester screamed on the members
A video that Punjab Spectrum uploaded on Youtube confirmed the protesters blocking the route of Tiranga Yatra. While organizers had been attempting to get the route cleared, an argument erupted between them and the protesters. One of the protester who was recording the video mentioned, “Bhindranwale de saamne tu chuha lagda ae (You are a rodent in front of Bhindranwale).” Another protester was heard saying, ”Bhindranwale di tan jutti de jaisa vi nahi hai (You are usually not even equal to the slippers of Bhindranwale)”.
There was no political agenda behind the rally, claimed organisers
The organisers of the Holi occasion mentioned that there was no political agenda behind the rally. “This was an expression of solidarity in the community as we haven’t been able to gather together to celebrate our festivals for over a year due to Covid-19,” they added. “The permission to hold the event and the car rally was taken weeks earlier from the city and the police,” the organisers added.
The organiser additional added that it had been a yr since all of them had met, and it was an amazing alternative for them to meet up with the family members. However, the protesters spoilt the day. “We have been separated for a year, and we were looking forward to being together, but these nearly 100 protesters spoilt the day for some of us,” they mentioned.
The occasion was delayed by three hours
The organiser mentioned that the rally was supposed to begin at 1 PM (native time). However, the protesters blocked the route, and the occasion was delayed by three hours. The Police had been on the spot, and so they cordoned off the protesters from the occasion, but it surely took time for them to get the world cleared for the rally. There had been round 250 automobiles that took half within the rally. Both Indian and Canadian flags had been flown in the course of the rally, and it lasted for about an hour.
Similar Tiranga Yatra was disrupted in February
An analogous Tiranga Yatra was organised in February 2021, which was additionally disrupted by the pro-Khalistani protesters. There had been reviews of violence throughout that incident. The members of the earlier rally had been assaulted and harassed, which may very well be seen in a number of movies that surfaced on social media. The protesters additionally disrespected Indian National Flag in the course of the Tiranga-Maple Rally within the Greater Toronto Area. In the aftermath of the violence, Jodhveer Dhaliwal, brother-in-law of New Democratic Party chief Jagmeet Singh and one different individual had been arrested.
