Komagata Maru Funding An Insult to the Indo Canadian Community

SURREY, BC - The announcement of funding for two projects continues to perpetrate the enduring insult to the Indo-Canadian community by the Conservative government regarding the Komagata Maru injustice of 1914.A hard cover book and a film relaying the experience of Sikh and Chinese immigrants in Canada have received a total of $243,625 through the Community Historical Recognition Program. Yet an official apology within the House of Commons remains elusive, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper continues to avoid the issue in spite of ongoing appeals from the Indo Canadian community.

The announcement is a sign of cheap politics without substance, says Newton North-Delta Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal.

“The announcement is a sign of utter disrespect for the Indo Canadians and in particular, the families of the Komagata Maru passengers” said Dhaliwal. “If Stephen Harper thinks that this funding is an adequate replacement to official recognition within the House of Commons, he is truly out of touch with the Indo Canadian community.”

The timing of the announcement is also suspect, coming on the heels of the resignation of former Conservative candidate for the riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton, Parvinder Singh. Mr. Singh tendered his resignation as a candidate this past week after stating that “the Conservative Party of Canada has no respect for the Sikhs” and that “turbans and Punjabis have no place in this party.”

A Liberal Private Members Motion that passed unanimously in the House of Commons on May 15, 2008 formally requested an official apology from the government. Yet nearly two years later, there has been absolutely no action in this regard.

Dhaliwal continues to question why descendents of the racist Chinese head tax were offered such an apology as well as compensation, and yet the Komagata Maru incident has been met with relative silence from the Conservative government.

“This is just another example of how Stephen Harper treats various communities, regions and cultural backgrounds differently in the name of politics” added Dhaliwal. “The time has come for the Prime Minister to take action and help the nation to move on from this terrible moment in Canada’s history with an official apology in the House of Commons.”

The Komagata Maru steamship sailed from Hong Kong to Vancouver carrying 376 passengers from Punjab, India. The passengers were not allowed to land in Canada and the ship was forced to return in an attempt to discriminate against immigration from India.

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For more information, please contact:
dhaliwal@sukhdhaliwal.ca
604-598-2202