AMRITSAR: Maintaining that a vast majority of the Canadian Sikhs doesn't support Khalistan, Canada's Hindu MP Chandra Arya said this separatist movement's leaders were trying to provoke the Hindu-Canadians to react and divide the Hindu and Sikh communities in Canada.
Chandra's reaction came a day after Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, counsel general of outlawed organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), told the Canadian Hindus to go back to India. The Liberal Party MP, who represents the riding of Nepean from Ontario province in the Canadian House of Commons, said: "The Khalistan movement leader is trying to provoke the Hindu Canadians to react. Most Sikh Canadians may not condemn the Khalistan movement publicly, yet they are connected deeply to the Hindu-Canadian community." He wondered how the glorification of terrorism or hate crime directed at a religious community could be sanctioned under the banner of freedom of speech and expression.
The Liberal MP claimed to have heard from many Hindu Canadians that they were fearful after this targeted threat. He asked them to stay calm but vigilant and report any incident of Hinduphobia to the local law enforcement agencies. Claiming that there will be an outrage in Canada if a white supremacist attacked any group of racialised Canadians and told them to get out of the country, he said. "Apparently, this Khalistani leader can get away with this hate crime. Hindu Canadians keep a low profile, so are considered soft targets."
The MP accused anti-Hindu elements of failing to digest the success of Hindu Canadians. Without naming any specific group, he said: "Two well-organised groups claiming to represent their faiths have been attacking Hindu community leaders and organisations, including me." For more than 10 months, he had been attacked for raising a flag carrying Hindu sacred symbol Aum on the parliament hill. Chandra said: "As Canadians, we can be proud of our Hindu faith and heritage, and our contribution to the success of our country."