Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his annual Deepawali message said that he would always stand with Hindu Canadians to ensure their safety and security so that they can freely and proudly practise their religion.
The statement by Trudeau comes at a time when the prescribed terror group, Sikhs for Justice which operates freely in Canada has launched an all out war against the Hindus living in the country.
Trudeau’s statement stating that he would protect Hindus in Canada would have had more meaning had he also assured that he would act against the Sikhs for Justice and other pro-Khalistan elements operating in the country.
The fact of the matter is that the statement by the Prime Minister does not have much of an impact, considering the fact that Hinduphobia is at an all-time high in Canada. There are numerous instances which clearly suggest that Hindus have been attacked and their places of worship vandalised. The problem is that the Trudeau government has not acted against any of these incidents and hence his message carries very little weight.
Rishabh Sarswat, who heads the Canadian chapter of the Coalition of Hindus of North America, while welcoming the statement also said that it comes at a time when Hinduphobia is at an all time high. He added that the message is appreciated, but the fact of the matter is that there has been no action to safeguard Hindus on the ground since the last three years.
“I hope he will back up his words with the actions needed to protect the rights of Hindus to practice their faith and to celebrate their heritage freely. That’s much needed at this moment. Hindu Canadians can’t be blamed for being skeptical of opportunistic political statements,” Ragini Sharma, president of the Canadian Organisation for Hindu Heritage Education said.
Trudeau has a long way to go
The manner in which Trudeau has disregarded the appeals made by the Hindus to create an environment where they can live and pray in peace is a well known fact. The Khalistanis are openly threatening the Hindus with clarion calls like, ‘go back to India.’
The plight of the Hindus was highlighted in September by Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre. He said that Hindus have the right to worship, to raise their families, to live in peace, without intimidation or threat.
“Anti-Hindu and Hinduphobia agendas have no place in Canada. I detest how the Prime Minister has divided our people. We were getting along in this country. Now look, everybody is fighting,” he also added.
In recent years, there have been blatant attacks on Hindu Temples in Canada. In addition to this the Sikhs For Justice held a referendum seeking a separate Khalistan country. During this its leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had openly threatened the Hindus and also criticised Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
When asked about such blatant acts that are taking place in public glare, the Trudeau government looked the other way and said that they respect freedom of speech.
Trudeau’s Deepawali message would have carried more weight if he showed one instance in which his government acted against these radical elements. Further, he ought to be acting on the several requests made by India seeking the deportation of the scores of proscribed terrorists living in Canada and plotting attacks against India.
The Hinduphobia is never ending
In December last year, the president of a Hindu Temple was attacked. 14 rounds were fired at the house of Satish Kumar’s son’s house. Satish Kumar is the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey, Canada. This was the third instance that the Lakshmi Narayan Temple of its members have been attacked by the Khalistani supporters.
In January last year, anti-India graffiti on a Hindu Temple in Brampton was found. The following month, anti-India graffiti was found at the Ram Mandir in Mississauga, Canada. In April, the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Windsor, Canada was vandalised.
Such incidents have also been reported in large numbers in India as well. Those sitting in Canada have orchestrated scores of targeted killings in Punjab. In 2016, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Naresh Kumar was shot at in Ludhiana.
Amit Arora, Shiv Sena leader was attacked in 2016 in Ludhiana, while the same year, Chand Kaur was shot dead. At Khanna city in 2019, Durga Prasad Gupta was shot dead, while later that year, RSS state vice president Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja was shot at in Chandigarh.
Amit Sharma, religious preacher and president of Hindu Takht was killed in Ludhiana in 2017. The same year RSS and BJP leader, Ravinder Gosai was shot dead in Ludhiana. Japan Sharma, leader of the Hindu Sangharsh Sena was shot dead in Amritsar city.
All these killings are linked to the Khalistan elements. In fact India recently named a Canadian border police force official in the killing of Shaurya Chakra awarded Comrade Balwinder Singh Sandhu. Among the many accused, India named one Sandeep Singh Sandhu, an official working with the Canadian border police force. Comrade Sandhu was shot dead at his home in 2020.
The NIA which is probing the case said that during the investigations, it has emerged that the murder of Comrade Sandhu was conspired by Sunny Toronto, a resident of Canada. The NIA also named Khalistan Liberation Force terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode.
Most of these elements who are staging these attacks have taken shelter in Canada. India recently sent a list of most wanted criminals to Canada. They include Goldy Brar, Sandeep Singh Sandhu, Charanjit Singh, Arshdeep Singh Gill, Lakhbir Singh, Gurpinder Singh and Ramandeep Singh. All these elements are residing in Canada and play a key role in terrorising the people, waging a war against India and indulge in attacks on Hindus and Hindu Temples.
Critiqued by own party member
One of the leaders who has been most vocal about the attacks on Hindus is an MP from Trudeau’s Liberal Party of Canada. Chandra Arya, an Indo-Canadian leader has criticised heavily the acts by the Khalistan elements.
“Few days back Khalistan movement leader in Canada and the president of Sikhs for Justice which organises the so-called referendum Gurpatwant Singh Pannun attacked Hindu Canadians asking us to leave Canada and go back to India,” Arya said.
He also added that he has heard from many HIndu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack. I urge Hindu-Canadians to stay calm but vigilant. Please report any incident of Hinduphobia to your local law enforcement agencies, he said. The Khalistan movement leaders are trying to provoke the Hindu Canadians to react and also divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada, Arya added.
With so much being said and so much being shared as evidence, Justin Trudeau continues to play petty politics for his own personal gains. In the wake of these developments and the lack of action, it would not be wrong to state that Trudeau’s message to the Hindus are just mere words.
