Emboldened by Justin Trudeau, how Khalistanis are threatening Hindus in Canada

It’s a worrying time for Hindus in Canada. Hindus living in the North American country are concerned for their safety, as the diplomatic standoff between the two countries – India and Canada – continues. And for the Hindus, it’s the pro-Khalistani elements that are threatening them. The situation is such that Indian intelligence agencies also discussed this in a meeting they held recently, in which they spoke about the growing clout of pro-Khalistani extremists and how they have openly taken to threaten and intimidate the Hindu community residing there. Let’s take a closer look at what’s going on and the continuous fears the Hindus in Canada are facing. Khalistani threats against Hindus Indians account for 18.6 per cent of the total number of people who immigrated to Canada between 2016 and 2021. According to official data, around 2.1 per cent of the population is Sikhs, while Hindus make up 2.3 per cent of the people. The recent incident of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of having a hand in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar has laid bare the divisions between the Indian diaspora. While India has rejected these allegations, calling them “absurd” and “politically motivated”, it has only led to tensions between the two communities. Also read: What did India's intel reveal about Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Shortly after Trudeau’s allegation, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of Sikhs for Justice – a pro-Khalistani banned group in India – issued a warning to Hindus residing in Canada, urging them to leave. In a video posted on social media platform X, Pannun accused Indo-Canadian Hindus of not being loyal to the Constitution of Canada and asking them to relocate to India. He also claimed that the Canadian Sikhs, unlike the Indo-Canadian Hindus, had never wavered from their loyalty to the country of their residence. Chandra Arya, an MP for Trudeau’s party, also raised the issue of Hindus in Canada facing threats. “I have heard from many Hindu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack,” he wrote, adding that the Khalistani movement was trying to provoke Hindu-Canadians to react and divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada. [caption id=“attachment_13169862” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A poster dedicated to Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. Pro-Khalistanis have increased their attacks and threats against Hindus in Canada. File image/AP[/caption] But even before Nijjar’s killing Canada has seen several instances of Hinduphobia and hate crimes against the community. According to Americankahani.com, there have been repeated attacks against Hindu places of worship across Canada — with more than two dozen break-ins between 2021 and 2022; and more than 15 incidents of vandalisation in the last two years. In this year alone until today, there have been three incidents of temples being defaced with pro-Khalistani sentiments. In August, the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in British Columbia was defaced with Khalistan referendum posters. The posters bore messages such as “Canada investigates India’s role in June 18th assassination” and featured a photo of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist and chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force who was killed in June that year.

In April, the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Ontario was vandalised with anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti. In January, the Gauri Shankar temple in Brampton was also targeted with similar graffiti. There have also been repeated incidents of vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi statues. Even an innocuous park sign which was inaugurated in 2022, was defaced, simply because it is named after the Bhagwat Gita. In addition to this, pro-Khalistani elements have carried out a number of protests and demonstrations on the streets of Canada, denouncing India and calling for the creation of a separate Khalistan.

The India-Canada row _How the pro-Khalistan sentiment has grown in Canada_ _Movies, yachts and more: The many investments by Khalistanis in Canada_ _Seizing properties, revoking OCI status: India’s big crackdown on Khalistanis_ _Should Indian students, diaspora worry amid souring Indo-Canada relations?_ _Why Justin Trudeau has been 'soft' on Khalistani extremists in Canada_ How Justin Trudeau’s anti-India antics have angered Canadians

Voicing their concerns Pannun’s video against Hindus, it seems has been the last straw. Hindus in Canada have collectively written to country’s public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, expressing their concerns. In the letter, the Canadian Hindus urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh to recognise the threat posed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a hate crime. They said Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his Khalistani associates have repeatedly expressed their beliefs and they intend to target people who do not subscribe to their ideology. “These threats have now materialised within Canada and it is imperative that the Canadian government does not underestimate their gravity,” the letter stated. [caption id=“attachment_13169872” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A Khalistan protest in front of the Indian embassy in Toronto sees a counter protest following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. File image/AFP[/caption] They added that both Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh have previously defended the incidents of Khalistan referendum “as matters of freedom of expression”. The community urged them to address the threat posed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to Indo-Canadian citizens. “We anticipate that Canadian authorities will take decisive action to address this matter. Will they persist in classifying this threat as an exercise of freedom of expression, or will they acknowledge the danger that has inadvertently befallen Canadian citizens?” the letter stated. Trustees of Hindu temples have also voiced their displeasure at the Canadian government’s inaction against the acts of vandalism at religious sites. “Everyone is talking about the threats, the slogans, swords being waved in the open, but the government has done nothing to curb it,” one trustee told IndiaToday.in. Many Hindu temples have also taken measures to protect their premises and their devotees. This includes the installation of additional CCTV cameras and gates. In fact, IndiaToday even reported that the Sanatan Mandir in the Greater Toronto area now has only one entrance, which is via a CCTV-protected manned gate. The larger open entrance has been shut with a fence and a metal gate. Denouncing hate Canadian government officials have reacted strongly to the hateful video put out by Pannun, arguing that the country was safe for Hindus and that the nation had no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear. Canada’s security department, Public Safety Canada, called the video offensive and hateful and is an affront to all Canadians and “the values we hold dearly”. Taking to X, last Friday, it said: “Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us. We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities.”

1/2 : There is no place in Canada for hate. The circulation of an online video in which Hindu Canadians are told to leave Canada is offensive and hateful, and is an affront to all Canadians and the values we hold dearly.

— Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) September 22, 2023

Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre echoed similar sentiments, calling the video “offensive and hateful”. Poilievre said, “Conservatives condemn these comments against our Hindu neighbours and friends. Hindus have made invaluable contributions to every part of our country and will always be welcome here.” With inputs from agencies