New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, has expressed India's expectation for Canada to address the issue of anti-India elements who have repeatedly issued threats against Indian leaders, institutions, airlines, and diplomats through violent means.
In response to reports regarding the apprehension of two individuals for threatening Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and other leaders, Jaiswal stated, "We are aware of these reports. The adoption of varying standards to evaluate or enforce the rule of law and freedom of expression by a democracy not only reveals its own inconsistencies but also undermines its credibility. It is imperative that Canada takes decisive action against these anti-India elements who have consistently threatened our leaders, institutions, airlines, and diplomats with violence. We are calling for a robust response that matches the severity of the threats we have faced."
In recent developments, two individuals from Alberta have been charged following allegations of making death threats against top federal leaders, including Prime Minister Trudeau. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has reported that a user allegedly made threats to the Prime Minister in May. Mason John Baker, a 23-year-old from Calgary, has been charged with uttering threats.
Furthermore, in another incident, an individual on YouTube was accused of making threats to the Prime Minister, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in June. Garry Belzevick, a 67-year-old from Edmonton, has been charged with three counts of uttering threats.
The relationship between the two countries has been strained following Prime Minister Trudeau's remarks in the House of Commons last year regarding "credible allegations" of a potential connection between Indian agents and the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020.
India has dismissed these accusations as "absurd" and "motivated." Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India's National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year.
In a recent development, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton has been subjected to vandalism. Member of Parliament for Nepean, Chandra Arya, has expressed deep concern over the escalating incidents of hate-fueled violence directed at Hindu-Canadian communities.
"The Hindu temple BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Edmonton has been vandalized once again. Over the past few years, Hindu temples in the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia, and other locations in Canada have faced similar acts of vandalism with hateful graffiti. This recent incident adds to a series of similar cases, highlighting a troubling trend of religious intolerance," Arya stated in a post on social media on June 23.
Arya, a Liberal member of Parliament known for his advocacy on multicultural issues, highlighted the impunity enjoyed by Khalistani extremists in Canada, citing examples where their rhetoric has openly incited hatred and violence.
"As has been consistently emphasized, it appears that Khalistani extremists are able to evade significant consequences for their public expressions of hatred and violence. Once more, I wish to underscore this concern. Hindu Canadians are indeed justified in their apprehension. It is imperative that Canadian law enforcement agencies address this matter with the gravity it demands, to prevent these inflammatory discourses from manifesting into physical harm against Hindu Canadians," Arya reiterated.
"In the previous year, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a representative of Sikhs for Justice, publicly advocated for the return of Hindus to India. Furthermore, it is regrettable that supporters of Khalistan have publicly celebrated the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and displayed images of lethal weapons," Arya added.
This matter was also brought to light on various social media platforms by another Canadian political figure, who characterized the event as a manifestation of "hateful rhetoric."
"Earlier today, the Edmonton BAPS Mandir suffered an act of vandalism, with paint being used to inscribe derogatory messages on its walls. Such incidents are unacceptable and contravene the principles of our city. Hate has no place in Canada, especially not within sacred spaces of worship and prayer," Randy Boissonnault, a Member of the House of Commons of Canada, expressed in a statement on Tuesday on platform X.
It is therefore imperative that Canadian law enforcement agencies take proactive steps to mitigate these threats and ensure the safety and security of all religious communities across the country. These incidents have sparked renewed debates on the enhancement of security protocols around Hindu temples and the intensification of efforts to counter extremist propaganda.
