OTTAWA: Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said he will offer a full apology in the House of Commons next month for the infamous Komagata Maru incident that has been remembered as an example of Canada’s discriminatory immigration policies in the early 19th century.
Of 376 passengers aboard Komagata Maru, majority were Sikhs.According to a Canadian daily, ‘The Globe and Mail’, the apology for the Komagata Maru incident will be delivered nearly 102 years after the ship from Hong Kong arrived off Vancouver only to have nearly all of its 376 passengers denied entry due to the immigration laws at the time.
The ship was eventually sent to Calcutta and least 19 people were killed in an ensuing skirmish with British soldiers, while others were jailed. While speaking at a Baisakhi celebration in Ottawa on Monday Trudeau said the Komagata Maru passengers were refused entry to Canada due to “discriminatory laws of the time”. A video on the website shows Trudeau — his head covered with a saffron cloth carrying a Sikh religious symbol — saying he would stand in the Canadian House of Commons on May 18 to deliver the full apology; at which there are cheers and raising of the Sikh slogan ‘Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’ by the audience.
“The passengers of the Komagata Maru like millions of immigrants to Canada since were seeking refuge and better lives for their families,” said Trudeau.” With so much to contribute to their new home, they chose Canada and we failed them utterly. As a nation, we should never forget the prejudice suffered by the Sikh community at the hands of the Canadian government of the day. We should not and we will not.” Trudeau says he will stand in the House of Commons on May 18 to deliver the full apology.
Meanwhile, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal hailed Trudeau’s decision. “It’s very heartening to see that the Canadian government has acknowledged the hurt caused to the community by the 1914 incident,” he added.