Brampton North MP Ruby Sahota chides Opposition for calling traditional Indian clothing 'costumes'

Sahota, was attending a debate and discussion on the Opposition Motion of the day on March 22.

After a Conservative MP referred to India's traditional clothing as 'costume' several times, an angry Sahota said, “Mr. Speaker, I am incredibly offended by the speech given by my colleague across the aisle just now. I implore them to stick to the facts and what they are trying to achieve. This reference I have been hearing from debate to debate about costumes is incredibly offensive."

According to media reports, the Conservative MPs were discussing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s troubled trip to India, and several, including Opposition MP Dane Lloyd, said that the only outcome of the state visit to India “was for the prime minister to show off his fancy costumes and dance moves.”

This irked Sahota, one of several Sikh MPs to accompany Trudeau to India.

She said the criticism was misguided, reports said.

She recalled her predicament as a child in Canada, and said, "I would like to share a little story about a girl growing up here in Canada, which was me, a child of immigrant parents, who struggled constantly to try to be proud of my culture and my heritage. I just could not help just wanting to fit in, and wonder why my parents could not just wear western clothing to my parent-teacher interview. Maybe I would fit in a little better, maybe the kids would not make fun of the clothing we traditionally wear. This reference continually made by the opposition to our clothing being costumes is outrageous."

Sahota also said, "I wonder if my colleague is offended I am wearing his costume right now. Would he call a business suit a costume? Should I ask people from around the world what they think about me wearing a white man's costume? Are you offended, because I am incredibly offended that again and again I hear reference to our clothing as costumes. It is not a costume; it is clothing we wear every day, day in and day out. Indians wear that clothing, and it is nothing compared to a uniform of a police officer."

Defending Prime Minister Trudeau, Sahota said, "The Prime Minister respected our culture and our traditions, and took part and engaged in the clothing we value so dearly. I am so happy that my child, my son, can see a Prime Minister today who respects his culture, his tradition, and where he comes from.”

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)

Image: Ruby Sahota/Facebook