Wednesday, August 9 2006 15:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said his Government would consult the Indo-Canadian community over how best to 'recognise' the 'sad' Komagata Maru incident of 1914 when Indians were stopped from reaching the country's shores.

"I want you to know the government of Canada acknowledges the Komagata Maru incident and we will soon undertake consultations with the Indo-Canadian community on how best to recognise this sad moment in our history," he said while addressing community members at a Punjabi festival in Surrey over the weekend.

In 1914, Canadian authorities refused to allow a Japanese ship Komagata Maru packed with passengers from Punjab to dock in Vancouver although those of board were legally entitled to enter Canada. They languished off shore for two months in appalling conditions before being forced back to India.

It was one of most notorious incidents of exclusion laws that were in force then and designed to keep out immigrants of Indian origin.

"The Komagata Maru incident showed that, like all other countries, Canada was not perfect. We haven't always lived up to our highest ideals," Harper was quoted as saying by the Canadian press.

Lauding the contributions made by the Indo-Canadian community to Canada's development, he said, "You're helping to build a stronger Canada that benefits all of us.When you succeed, Canada succeeds."