NEW DELHI: More than 100 Canadian organisations and civil liberties groups have written to Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior federal ministers in support of RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s proposed visit to Canada, urging the Government to ensure that any decision on his entry is based on evidence and due process rather than political pressure.
The signatories said Dr Bhagwat’s proposed visit is of “considerable interest” to Canada’s Hindu community, which the letter says includes more than a million Canadians of Hindu heritage. They described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as a major Indian organisation known for community service, social initiatives, cultural activities and public discourse.
“We, the undersigned representatives of more than 101+ Canadian organisations and civil liberties groups, write to express our support for the proposed visit of Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak (chief) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to Canada. The proposed visit is of considerable interest to Canada’s Hindu community, including more than one million Canadians of Hindu heritage.
The RSS is a major Indian organisation known for community service, social initiatives, cultural activities and public discourse. We are therefore concerned by recent calls from NDP MPs Jenny Kwan and Heather McPherson, along with several organizations, urging the Government of Canada to prevent Mr. Bhagwat from entering Canada and to characterize him as inadmissible”, the letter released by Canadian organisations and civil liberties groups reads.
The groups strongly objected to the campaign seeking to block Bhagwat’s entry, arguing that allegations made against him must be supported by credible evidence.
“Canada’s multiculturalism is founded on the principle that people of different faiths and cultural traditions can participate fully in public life. Hindus, like Canadians of every other religious or non-religious background, are entitled to dignity, security, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, peaceful association and equality before the law”, the letter further reads.
“Political disagreement and peaceful protest are legitimate. Criticism of religious, cultural or political leaders is also legitimate. But preventing a visiting leader from entering Canada based on allegations that have not been demonstrated with credible evidence would raise serious concerns about pluralism and fairness”, it further reads.
“Dr. Bhagwat’s emphasis has always been social harmony, cultural identity, community service and engagement across communities. We therefore urge political leaders and community organizations to exercise responsibility in their public statements and avoid rhetoric that could deepen divisions among Canada’s diverse communities”, it reads.
The letter further calls for Ottawa to uphold “equality, pluralism, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, peaceful association and due process” while considering Bhagwat’s proposed visit.
The letter concludes that, “Canada needs more dialogue, not division; more evidence, not allegations; more due process, not political pressure; and more respect for its multicultural mosaic—not efforts that could silence one community’s legitimate right to welcome its own cultural and spiritual leaders. We respectfully request that the Government of Canada uphold the principles of equality, pluralism, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, peaceful association and due process in considering Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s proposed visit”.
The letter listed more than 100 organisations and community groups supporting the appeal, including the Canada India Foundation, Canadian Arya Samaj, Brampton Hindu Society, Hindu Society of Canada, Hindu Mission of Canada, Hindu Sabha Temple, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, VHP Canada and several temples, cultural associations and community organisations.
