Arya stated emphatically that the “vast majority of our Canadian Sikh brothers and sisters do not support the Khalistan movement.” This discovery follows a series of meetings among Sikh MPs, led by Sukh Dhaliwal of the Liberal Party, who have expressed worry about perceived “excesses” against the Sikh population in India.
Arya didn’t mince words when he accused Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a separatist based in the United States affiliated with the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), of attempting to incite Canadian Hindus with a provocative video urging them to return to India. According to Arya, this action is aggravating tensions between the Hindu and Sikh populations in Canada.
Arya took to Twitter to express his confusion about Prime Minister Trudeau and his own party’s government, writing, “I can’t understand how glorification of terrorism or a hate crime targeting a religious group is allowed in the name of freedom of speech and expression.” There would be anger in Canada if a white supremacist attacked any group of colored Canadians and demanded that they leave the nation. But apparently, this Khalistani leader can get away with this hate crime.”
On a separate note, MP Dhaliwal revealed his own experience in parliament, stating that he was refused an Indian visa for speaking out against what he called “excesses against Sikhs” in India, which he went on to describe “a so-called democracy.” In light of this, he has called on lawmakers from across Canada’s political spectrum, including Conservatives, Liberals, and the NDP, to denounce what he claims is Indian government intimidation.
Adding to this chorus, NDP’s Jagmeet Singh shared his own experience. He said that in 2013, while he was a member of Ontario’s provincial legislature, India denied him a visa to visit Amritsar in December of that year. Singh, who now lives in Canada, said that the Indian government appeared dissatisfied with his attempts to obtain justice for the victims of the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots.Several other Sikh MPs, including Harjit Singh Sajjan, Randeep Sarai, and Iqwinder Singh Gaheer, expressed their concerns in parliament as well. They emphasized worries about “foreign interference” and called for measures to “protect Canadians.”Arya further underscored that, although many Canadian Sikhs may not openly denounce the Khalistan movement due to various factors, they maintain deep connections with the Canadian Hindu community through family ties and shared social and cultural bonds.
In light of these developments, Arya advised Canadian Hindus to remain composed yet vigilant, urging them to promptly report any incidents of Hinduphobia to their local law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, the Hindu Forum Canada has taken proactive steps by writing to Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc. Their letter calls for the recognition of the “go-back-to-India threat” posed by Pannun and emphasizes the need for measures to ensure the safety of the Hindu community. Supported by over a million Canadian Hindus, the letter appeals to both Prime Minister Trudeau and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, urging them to categorize the threat as a hate crime rather than an exercise of freedom of expression.
