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A protest was organized by a coalition of twenty diaspora organizations and diverse community partners from across Canada
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The march commenced at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa
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Chinnaiah Jangam, Associate Professor of History at Carleton University and co-founder of the South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network (SADAN)
Over a hundred demonstrators from various Canadian cities gathered in Ottawa to shed light on the need to address human rights abuses in India and counter the growing influence of extremist Hindutva ideologies within Canada, as reported by nriaffairs.com.
The protesters took to the streets with the aim of opposing hatred and advocating for the protection of democracy, while also promoting a diverse, multi-faith, and multi-ethnic vision of India. They expressed concern over the increasing presence of Hindutva groups or Hindu supremacist factions within Canada, which they believe are spreading hate through educational institutions, online platforms, and community gatherings.
Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice for All Canada, emphasized the significance of the rally: “This demonstration goes beyond being a mere protest; it signifies a firm stand for the rights and dignity of minority communities both in India and Canada. The menace of Hindutva extremism and the erosion of democratic principles demand our attention. Today, we stand united under the banner of shared human rights values and declare our refusal to be passive observers of fascist forces that aim to divide and oppress the most vulnerable.”
The protest was organized by a coalition of twenty diaspora organizations and diverse community partners from across Canada. The march commenced at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa. Chinnaiah Jangam, Associate Professor of History at Carleton University and co-founder of the South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network (SADAN), delivered an opening speech underscoring the protest’s sentiment: “SADAN stands in solidarity with all victims of violence orchestrated by Hindu right-wing forces in India and will steadfastly oppose hate while fighting for the protection of democracy and the constitutional rights of all citizens.” Addressing the situation in Canada, he added, “Caste supremacy is overtly present in Canadian public life, with instances of caste-based violence and discrimination affecting marginalized communities, particularly children, in schools and playgrounds. Furthermore, Hindu right-wing organizations pose a significant threat to Canada’s multicultural society.”
According to human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, India’s ruling BJP government is accountable for hate speech and discriminatory laws that facilitate the systematic marginalization of minority communities, allowing Hindutva groups to promote exclusionary ideologies in both India and Canada. Consequently, minority groups in India face unprecedented violence and racism with limited intervention from state authorities.
The protest was organized by a coalition of twenty diaspora organizations and diverse community partners from across Canada. The march commenced at the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa. Chinnaiah Jangam, Associate Professor of History at Carleton University and co-founder of the South Asian Dalit Adivasi Network (SADAN)
Protesters marched to Parliament Hill and the Prime Minister’s Office to symbolically present a joint letter endorsed by over 80 organizations. The letter urges the Canadian government to take concrete actions to combat hate and remain faithful to the principle of “NEVER AGAIN.” The proposed steps include:
Addressing Human Rights Abuses: Acknowledge and condemn escalating human rights violations, particularly in regions like Manipur.
Publicly Denouncing Rights Breaches: Issue public condemnations of documented human rights violations.
Strengthening Trade Oversight: Enhance scrutiny and oversight in trade agreements with India to ensure human rights remain central to bilateral cooperation, especially under the Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Probing RSS-Linked Entities: Investigate and monitor Canadian organizations with affiliations or ideological ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a paramilitary organization and ideological parent of the right-wing BJP, under existing hate speech laws.
Investigating Election Meddling: Examine potential interference by RSS-affiliated entities in Canadian democratic processes.
The protesters also highlighted how India appears to be adopting strategies akin to Israel’s in its treatment of minorities. Bruce Katz, Co-President of Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU), drew parallels between the struggles for Kashmiri sovereignty and Palestinian self-determination, pointing out the similarities between the illegal occupations of Kashmir and Palestine. Katz stated that the India-Israel alliance embodies institutionalized racism, both justifying their respective occupations with security concerns. He affirmed PAJU’s solidarity against Hindutva nationalism and support for Kashmiri sovereignty.
Shivangi Misra, an international human rights lawyer and organizer in Ottawa, emphasized that India’s public institutions have been systematically undermined to serve Hindutva ideology and the far-right. She stressed the urgent need for international support and solidarity to address the atrocities faced by minorities, especially Muslims, Dalits, Christians, and women in India.
The organizers concluded by calling for solidarity and urging Canadian civil society to voice opposition to hate groups within Canada while supporting democracy, justice, and equality in both India and Canada.
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