Vaisakhi Day controversy reaches federal stage

METRO VANCOUVER – Political controversy surrounding the Surrey Vaisakhi Day celebrations reached the federal stage Saturday with Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff adding his voice to those demanding an apology for controversial remarks made about a fellow Member of Parliament by an organizer of the parade.

The controversy started when Vaisakhi parade organizers told a Punjabi radio station this week that Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh and B.C. Liberal MLA Dave Hayer are not invited to the annual event-and if they do show up, they’ll be responsible for their own safety.

As the floats started down the parade route Saturday morning, Igantieff released a statement demanding an apology for the comments.

"We must unequivocally condemn all threats of violence and extremism in Canadian communities. No public official, no matter what their political affiliation, should ever be excluded or require security at a public event such as this," Iganatieff said in the statement. "It is appropriate that the organizers extend my colleague Ujjal Dosanjh and BC MLA Dave Hayer an apology."

Ignatieff said the parade’s rightful role is an inclusive community celebration.

"For the more than one hundred thousand Canadians that now attend each year, all have felt welcomed, and all have experienced the parade as a joyful and inclusive celebration," Ignatieff said. " It is unfortunate that such an important community celebration has been tarnished by these threats of violence."

Ignatieff is not the first political leader to condemn the remarks. Premier Gordon Campbell did not attend Saturday’s event because the organizers did not apologize to Dosanjh and Hayer.

"It’s a religious celebration," the premier told reporters Friday. "It’s not a political comment. People are free to express their political positions in Canada but you are not in a position to single out individual elected representatives and say ‘they better watch out if they come.’ That simply is not acceptable in this country."

Inderjit Singh Bains, an organizer of the parade, told The Vancouver Sun in a Thursday interview that it was the decision of the committee organizing the parade not to invite Dosanjh or Hayer and, therefore, it was not the organizers’ responsibility to ensure the politicians’ safety if they decide to attend.

Both Dosanjh and Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts lodged complaints with the RCMP Thursday after being contacted by The Sun, which obtained an English transcript of the radio show commentary.

Temple officials involved in the parade do not believe it is necessary to issue an apology and insisted Friday that everyone is welcome to attend.

rlindell@vancouversun.com

With files from Lori Culbert and Jonathan Fowlie