| Issue 22 Vol I, August 31, 2006 | Archive |
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Indian consulate stops celebrating
Independence Day in Surrey THE Indian consulate in Vancouver has stopped celebrating the Independence Day at the Surrey Sikh temple ground. The practice was started by the previous Consul General Dr. George Joseph. During his tenure the Indian tricolour used to be unfurled on two national days – the Republic day of India on January 26 and the Independence Day on August 15 at the Surrey Sikh temple ground. However, the practice has been stopped with the change of guard. This year’s Independence Day was held at the West Vancouver official residence of the Counsel General. Earlier, the new Counsel General Ashok Kumar had also held the Republic Day celebrations at his residence. Dr. Joseph had started the previous practice so that majority Indo Canadians could participate in the national day events right in the heart of Surrey, where the Indian community largely lives. The Counsel General residence is very far from Surrey. Only a select few used to go there to attend the celebrations. The Surrey Sikh temple ground is very popular in the Indian community as Kabbadi tournaments are also organized there. The Canada Day is also held there now. However, Dr. Joseph’s initiative also sparked some controversy. The Sikh separatists were opposed to the unfurling of the Indian flag in a Sikh temple premises. When they controlled the Surrey Sikh temple, they used to hoist the flag of Khalistan there. The temple is now managed by the moderate Sikhs. They had happily allowed the Counsel General to start such a practice to begin a new chapter of friendship between the Sikh community and the Indian officials. The Sikhs had remained alienated from the Indian officials during the terrorism days. Following Operation Bluestar, emotional and hot headed Sikhs had vandalized the Indian Consulate in Vancouver. Sources in the Indian consulate revealed that Dr. Joseph had started this practice to reach out to the local Indian community. Several former separatists also started joining these functions. Among them was Piara Singh Natt. However, Ashok Kumar wants to stick to the rules that allow such celebrations to be held either at the Consul General residence or the consulate itself. The rules also permit to celebrate national days in hotels in rare cases. |
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