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Canada apologised for 1914 Komagata Maru Tragedy, says Krishna | The Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna on Wednesday said that the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, a province in Canada, unanimously passed a resolution in
May 2008 apologizing for Komagata Maru incident of 1914. He further said that
on Aug.3, 2008, Canadian Prime Minister tendered an apology for the Komagata Maru
incident of 1914, during the 13th Annual "Ghabri Babiyan Da Mela" festival held
in Surrey. Replying to the questions by members in the Lok Sabha, Krishna today
informed the House that: "In 2006, the Canadian Prime Minister referred to the
Komagata Maru incident as an important event in Canadian history and one that
must be properly recognized, stating, "Government of Canada acknowledges the Komagata
Maru incident and we will soon undertake consultations with the Indo-American
community on how best to recognize this sad moment in our history." Stating further,
Krishna said: "The Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism,
Jason Kenny announced, in May 2008, that the Canadian Government was taking steps
to acknowledge and commemorate the tragedy. He announced that the Indo-Canadian
community would be able to apply for up to Canadian $ 2.5 million in grants and
contributions funding to commemorate the Komagata Maru incident." "On August 3,
2008 the Canadian Prime Minister, at the 13th Annual "Ghabri Babiyan Da Mela"
festival in Surrey, British Columbia province, issued an apology for the Komagata
Maru incident stating, in response to the House of Commons motion calling for
an apology by the Government, "On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am officially
conveying, as Prime Minister, that apology". On May 23, 2008 the Legislative Assembly
of British Columbia (a province in Canada) unanimously passed a resolution apologizing
for Komagata Maru incident of 1914. Krishna informed that the text of that resolution
read: "Be it resolved that this Legislature apologizes for the events of May 23,
1914, when 376 passengers of the Komagata Maru, stationed off the Vancouver harbour,
were denied entry by Canada. The House deeply regrets that the passengers who
sought refuge in our country and our province were turned away without benefit
of the fair and impartial treatment befitting a society where people of all cultures
are welcomed and accepted." Under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell, the
province of British Columbia is the first province in Canada to issue an apology
for the Komagata Maru events of May 23, 1914 on the 75th anniversary of that May
date, the city of Vancouver under his Worship Mayor Gordon Campbell, was the first
city in Canada to place a plaque in remembrance of those that were wronged. |
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