Indian-Americans Demand Action in Response to Hate Speech Against Hindus in Canada

Influential Indian-Americans have banded together to condemn the rise in anti-Hindu sentiments in Canada and demand that the government take immediate action. An inciting video from a pro-Khalistan organisation that threatened to expel Hindu Canadians from the nation has prompted the demand for action.

Professor Indu Vishwanathan, co-founder of Understanding Hinduphobia at the Hindu University of America, expressed worry over the frequent threats and incidents of Hinduphobia on Canadian territory and highlighted that keeping quiet in the face of such actions is equivalent to applauding hate crimes. In the meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was encouraged to draw a distinction between freedom of speech and the propagation of terrorism by Khanderao Kand of the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), according to PTI. He also stressed the need of combating radicalization and criminal activity.

Following Prime Minister Trudeau’s hints that Indian operatives may have been involved in the murder of Khalistani fanatic Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian territory, the situation became more heated. These accusations were promptly dismissed by India as unfounded. No real action has been done in reaction to the widely disseminated film, despite the Canadian government’s insistence that violence and hatred have no place in the nation.

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin’s chair of government affairs, Dr. Sampath Shivangi, appealed to US President Joe Biden and Congress to take action in order to protect Canada’s Indian community, Hindus, and countless Indian students from the dangers. Bharat Barai, a well-known Indian American politician headquartered in Chicago, responded to worries about the possible spread of tensions to the US by remaining cautiously hopeful and portraying Khalistanis as a tiny, mistaken minority engaged in different criminal activities.

Sukhi Chahal of Khalsa Today and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the outlawed group Sikhs for Justice, are two prominent Sikh individuals who have distanced themselves from extremist elements in order to highlight the Sikhism’s emphasis on human harmony. Threats from Pannun were expressly condemned, and appeals for unity and respect across all groups were made. With his threats against Hindu Canadians, Pannun, according to Sri Iyer, editor of the US-based PGurus site, breached the narrow line between free expression and hate speech.