Riding high on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s diplomatic row with India over support to Khalistani terrorists, the banned terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has unleashed Hinduphobia in Canada.
SFJ supremo Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has threatened Hindus of Indian origin asking them to leave Canada for supporting the country of their origin and “promoting violence” by celebrating Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.
Having got a major push after the Canadian PM went on to accuse India of involvement in the recent murder of another Khalistani terrorist Nijjar, Pannun who was running for his life till now has issued threats leading to panic amongst Hindu residents there.
“Indo-Hindu leave Canada; go to India. You not only support India but you are also supporting the suppression of speech and expression of pro-Khalistan Sikhs,” said Pannun in a video, which has gone viral. SFJ has said it feels “emboldened” by the Trudeau government’s recent actions of disengaging with India.
Vijay Jain, a spokesperson for Canadian Hindus for Harmony, expressed concern over Pannun’s threat. “We are now seeing full-scale Hinduphobia out across the board. We are worried that this may translate into the loss of Canadian Hindu lives as in 1985”, he said, referring to Khalistani bombing of Air India Montreal-London–Delhi–Bombay flight in June 1985, which left 307 passengers and 22 crew members on board dead. The terror attack took place during the regime of Justin’s father Pierre Trudeau who too had shut eyes to potential threat.
Khalistani terrorists are accused of at least a dozen cases of desecration of temples with graffiti or anti-India posters. A petition has been pending before the Canadian House of Commons to recognise Hinduphobia in the glossary of terms in the Human Rights Code to describe anti-Hindu prejudice and discrimination. The petition has so far gathered nearly 9000 signatures.
A Hindu Canadian minister Anita Anand said South Asians and families who come from India, regardless of religion, will share the sentiment that it was difficult to hear Trudeau’s statement on Monday. Meanwhile in an advisory aimed at Indian nationals and students in Canada and citizens planning to travel to the country, the external affairs ministry said there were also threats against members of the Indian community who “oppose the anti-India agenda”.
“In view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada, all Indian nationals there and those contemplating travel are urged to exercise utmost caution,” the advisory said.
“Recently, threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” it added. The advisory cautioned Indian nationals to “avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents”.
Advisory for Indian Nationals and Indian Students in Canada:https://t.co/zboZDH83iw pic.twitter.com/7YjzKbZBIK
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 20, 2023
There are 230,000 Indian students and 700,000 non-resident Indians in Canada, according to the website of the Indian high commission in Ottawa.
The advisory said the Indian high commission and consulates will continue to be in contact with Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian community. “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant,” it said.
Indian nationals and students in Canada “must also register” with the high commission in Ottawa or the consulates in Toronto and Vancouver through their websites or the MADAD portal (madad.gov.in), the advisory said. Registration would enable the missions to “better connect with Indian citizens in Canada in the event of any emergency or untoward incident”.
