Few Politicians, a Lot of Politics

April 12, 2008

Author: Kim Bolan

Source: The Vancouver Sun

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cf64d4fd-391d-4727-bfd6-fbe02f0488b7&k=49571

Tens of thousands lined the streets of Surrey today to mark Vaisakhi, the holiest day on the Sikh calendar.

Despite the controversy over the display of photos of assassins as martyrs, most in the crowd were just there to enjoy the free food, the music and the community spirit.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts spent hours walking along the parade route, greeting families happy to see their city council out for the event.

But Watts did have a large contingent of uniformed RCMP officers nearby after she criticized parade organizers over their refusal to remove the controversial images glorifying assassins and dead leaders of the Babbar Khalsa and International Sikh Youth Federation, both banned terrorist groups.