Premier Right to Boycott Vaisakhi Parade

The annual Vaisakhi parade, celebrating the birth of the Sikh faith, went ahead this weekend in Surrey without participation from Premier Campbell and with condemnation from Surrey's mayor Diane Watts. The Surrey Vaisakhi parade has been a source of controversy in the last few years for having floats with images of known terrorists and murderers being celebrated as "martyrs" for the Sikh separatist movement. The reason for the snub this year was the outrageous remarks of one of the organizers that were aimed at MLA Dave Hayer and MP Ujjal Dosanjh. The organizer claimed that these two elected representatives were not welcome at the parade and if they chose to come, they should bring their own security as their safety could not be guaranteed. These comments display an alarming arrogance and hate that has no place in our communities. Hayer and Dosanjh are well known opponents of the kind of Sikh extremism and terrorism that many in the Surrey Sikh community sympathize with. These two representatives have faced repercussions for being moderate and peaceful before. Mr. Dosanjh was severely beaten in the 1980's for his moderate beliefs and Mr. Hayer's father was viciously murdered for being a moderate. This year, by threatening elected officials and refusing to remove the "martyr" floats, the parade has crossed the line. Premier Campbell was right to demand an apology from the organizers and when they outrageously refused to, he was right to boycott the parade. This type of behaviour is unbelievable and unacceptable. So let me paraphrase Mr. Hayer's comments from this weekend and direct them at the parade organizers: "This isn't India. If you are so concerned with India-stay in India." We must expect and demand that those who come to Canada to start a new life actually do so, and don't bring their bitter animosities and violent, extremist baggage with them.