PM Carney recalls Kamagata Maru incident, says passengers faced discrimination and suffering

Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reflected on the Kamagata Maru incident, in which 376 Indian immigrants were barred from entering Canada in 1914.

“In 1914, the Kamagata Maru steamship was anchored in the port of Vancouver after a long voyage across the Pacific Ocean,” Carney said in a statement posted on social media platform X. “The 376 Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus on board the vessel arrived seeking asylum and honour.”

However, Canadian authorities denied them entry under what Carney described as “foreigners and discriminatory laws.” He said the passengers were held on the ship for two months and were denied food, water, and medical assistance.

Carney’s remarks came as the country commemorated the Kamagata Maru incident, widely seen as a dark chapter in Canadian immigration history.