Sinister and deep design to divide Sikhs and Hindus in Canada needs to be exposed

 

Sinister and deep design to divide Sikhs and Hindus in Canada needs to be exposed

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

Chandigarh: Let us decode deeper design in what apparently seems to be deliberate distortion of facts in case of the so-called Sikh-Hindu clash in Canada to project it as confrontation between the two communities. The Indian media and the establishment gave it out as a communal conflict and attack on a Mandir, the Hindu place of worship.

Let us first put the matter straight from the evidence available in the form of videos relating to every dimension of this narrative and the statements.

It was neither a Sikh-Hindu clash nor an attack on the Hindu temple per se. It was a protest by the SFJ activists against the Indian consulate organizing a camp there. Such protests have been held against the consulate outside the gurdwaras too as per the record.

The saner statement issued by the Hindu Federation of November 4 is very important in the interpretation of this narrative. It states, “Hindu Federation strongly condemns the incident of violence outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir on Gr Rd in Brampton and Malton Gurdwara Sahib”.

The violence was outside the places of worship and as such, there was no attack on Mandir as made out by India.

It is relevant to quote reaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi  who said: “I strongly condemn the deliberate attack on a Hindu temple in Canada”. (From X).  This tweet went viral. This is far from the ground reality seen in the videos.

Ironically, people of strife-torn Manipur are still waiting for visit by the Prime Minister even after more than a year the divide triggered there.

The Ontario Gurdwara Committee at a media briefing on November 6 clarified, “The protest was not against the Mandir or the Hindu community but against the Indian consulate. Similar protests were held outside a Gurdwara that also hosted a Consulate clinic”. This statement has been sent by committee spokesman Jarmanjit Singh.

One should refer to the video evidence too.

The protest outside the Hindu Mandir was by Sikhs for Justice and the number of activists was not more than 20! Chandigarh educated SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who holds dual US and Canadian citizenship has been declared a ‘terrorist’ by India.  

They were shouting slogans against the Indian government and not against any community. The protesters were standing on the other side of the road opposite the Mandir.

A section of the people came out of the temple and one of them told the police to disperse the protesters. The policeman is heard saying that those people were protesting peacefully. The clash followed following the use of abusive language.

It is being reiterated here that it was not an “attack” per se on the Hindu Mandir as has been projected in India.

It is clear from the videos as to who was provoking the Hindu crowd. The Hindu Sabha suspended a priest following this incident. The statement issued on November 5 stated, “Due to controversial involvement of Hindu Sabha priest Rajinder Parsad with the non-permitted protesters at Hindu Sabha premises on 3^rd Nov 2024, Hindu Sabha is suspending Rajinder Parsad with immediate effect”. The statement has been signed by its president Madhusudan Lama.

The deliberately distorted Mandir attack narrative has serious ramifications, not only in Canada but also in India.

It is important that in such a sensitive matter, the media should not only be fair but also seem to be fair.

Relations between India and Canada soured after the killing of SFJ activist Harpreet Singh Nijjer in June, 2023 outside a gurdwara in Surrey in Canada. Earlier, India has been protesting against activities of Khalistanis on the Canadian soil.

It may be mentioned that these Khalistanis are active in USA too and some other countries too.

These people have been protesting against India in Canada after the killing of Nijjer.

Canada Prime Minister Justine Trudeau a few months after this killing came out with revelations  of “credible allegation” of India’s hand in this killing. India vociferously denied it and asked for evidence.

This situation took another turn as USA foiled attempt on the life of Gurptwant Singh Pannun and trapped one Nikhil Gupta who was subsequently extradited him from Czech Republic. The chargesheet filed by prosecution in this case named Vikash Gupta, a former RAW officer. For Canada, the two cases are linked.

The situation turned explosive when Canada and India expelled six diplomats each earlier.

And now Canada has name India’s Home Minister Amit Shah as part of this narrative.

Is the distortion of the entire narrative beginning with clash outside the Mandir part of design to divert this very narrative?

“There is nothing like Sikh-Hindu tension here. About 60-70 per cent of the students who partake Langar in the gurdwaras are Hindus. Certain forces are trying to create trouble”, said Jarmanjit.

Canada houses the largest Sikh population outside Indian Punjab.

What is happening in Canada has to be viewed in the backdrop of this close relationship.

The slogans raised by the Hindu activists outside the Mandir are signification. The Hindu activists hailed Lawrence Bishnoi, the gangster lodged in a Gujarat jail who name has been linked to the Canada narrative. One of the Hindu leaders also invited Indian army to invade Canada to check Khalistanis.

Would India allow its citizens to invite army of any other country? Such a person here would be booked under the stringent preventive laws and might be detailed for years without trial.

However, it is the deliberate distortion that should be of concern. The deeper design that seems to be part of some dirty politics should not be allowed to divide people.

This design and the forces need to be exposed.