Canadian government denounces ‘online hate video’ telling Hindus in Canada to ‘go back to India’ | EUROtoday

The Canadian government has denounced a viral video threatening Hindus in Canada amid escalating tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi.

Canada’s public security minister, Dominic LeBlanc, reassured members of the Hindu group that they need to not really feel threatened by the video posted on-line by the organisation Sikhs for Justice, which urged them to “go back to India”.

The video was broadly shared amid a fierce diplomatic row that started after Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, mentioned there have been “credible allegations” that the Indian government had been concerned in the homicide of Canadian Sikh chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India denied the suggestion, describing it as “absurd”, and has since suspended visa providers for Canadians, citing “security threats” to its embassy and consulates in Canada.

Though he didn’t title Sikhs for Justice straight, Mr LeBlanc strongly criticised the organisation’s video, which after a number of days has now been taken down. “All Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities,” Mr LeBlanc wrote on X, previously generally known as Twitter.

“The circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians contradicts the values we hold dear as Canadians,” he continued. “There is no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation, or incitement of fear.”

Public Safety Canada referred to as the video “offensive and hateful”.

“Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us,” the division mentioned in a separate publish on X.

“We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities.”

Pierre Poilievre, the chief of Canada’s fundamental opposition Conservative Party, mentioned that hateful feedback “targeting Hindus in Canada” have been on the rise in latest days.

“Every Canadian deserves to live without fear and feel welcomed in their community. In recent days, we have seen hateful comments targeting Hindus in Canada,” he wrote on X.

“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.”

And Jagmeet Singh, the chief of the New Democratic Party, additionally tweeted a message in assist of the group.

“To Hindus across Canada. This is your home and you deserve to be here,” Mr Singh wrote. “Anyone that suggests otherwise does not reflect the values of inclusion, compassion and kindness we hold close as Canadians.”

“To Hindu Canadians & and Indians from all backgrounds: Anyone who says you do not deserve to be safe & welcomed in your home does not embody the values of freedom & kindness we hold dear as Canadians,” wrote Harjit Sajjan, an MP representing Vancouver South.

“Do not let others delegitimise or question your place and love for Canada.”

None of the politicians condemning the video referred to as out Sikhs for Justice straight. The group is among the many most distinguished amongst those that assist the concept that an unbiased Sikh state referred to as Khalistan needs to be carved out of India’s state of Punjab.

The video calling on Hindus to “go back to India” was introduced by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer based mostly in New York. He accused Hindus in Canada of “working against” the nation whereas concurrently benefiting from it economically.

Nijjar, the Sikh chief killed in Canada in June, was additionally an outspoken supporter of the Khalistan motion. India had designated him a wished terrorist and accused him of main and recruiting for a militant organisation – prices he and his supporters strongly denied.

His dying has led to a diplomatic row between India and Canada after the Trudeau government mentioned it had obtained intelligence – reportedly from one other member of the Five Eyes alliance – that Indian government brokers have been accountable for the killing.

Mr Trudeau confronted India’s prime minister Narendra Modi over the case on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Delhi earlier this month, however India’s international ministry mentioned the allegation was “rejected”.

The Canadian prime minister then made the allegation public in a rare assertion to parliament, and expelled an Indian diplomat, who was reportedly the pinnacle of the intelligence wing of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa.

India has since expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in flip, and formally requested that the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi be downsized, citing an absence of “parity” between the 2 international locations’ missions in addition to issues over what it referred to as “anti-India activities”.